Micro-Check Video Inspection System Comes to Flexo and Gravure Industries

This is an exciting picture: An electronic engraving machine is neatly arranged in a room. Each electronic engraving machine has 4 to 16 engraving heads. With the rumbling of the engraving machine, A gravure plate cylinder was thus created. Many gravure plate cylinders can be machined every day without operator supervision! Realized unattended operation! And no need to proof! Directly from the electric carving shop to the printing shop, it can be immediately printed on the machine... Day after day, year after year, every day, and almost nothing goes wrong.

Of course, this simple and efficient production process requires higher quality, advanced engraving equipment and skilled operators. What's more, the most important thing is to have a very accurate inspection system to check whether the cells are accurately qualified... Therefore, you need to use the Micro-Check Rollscope computer-controlled video detection system. RRDonnelly is a good example. The company is one of the largest commercial printing companies in the world. There are six factories in the company that have adopted this video detection system, and several other factories are also preparing or are preparing Introduce this system.

This revolutionary system consists of two major components: the video microscope and specialized software. Among them, the video microscope is used to capture images, and the software program is responsible for interpreting information and outputting information in the form of images and numbers. This system is both an effective measurement tool and a good quality control tool.

First of all, it is a very useful measurement tool. Before the official engraving of a gravure cylinder or anilox roller, the sculptors can use it to inspect the engraving. This system can detect the dimensions of the engraved cells, the shape of the cells, the depth of the cells, and the capacity of the ink. Find out the differences and automatically revise the correction information to the host computer to ensure that the perfect sculpted cells are available at all times.

In addition, it is an excellent tool for quality control and inspection. With this, the operator does not have to bother and ponder over whether a component has become excessively worn and can no longer be used. With this system, it is possible to accurately measure the quality of gravure plate cylinders, anilox rollers, and other components, determine the degree of wear, the presence or absence of dirt on the surface, the degree of contamination, and other aspects.

One of the system's unique features One of the main advantages of the video detection system is the ability to eliminate errors and errors from the naked eye. The Micro-Check Rollscope system can locate multiple cells and automatically search for the size of three cells. In each test, the system can handle four to five cells simultaneously.

The heart of Shima's computer-controlled video inspection system is the Micro-Check XYZ software program. The software interprets the image as 32-bit color. Since the software program runs on the Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition operating system platform, the stability and consistency of the software are quite high, reducing the variable factors in the measurement. . The system can scan the cells in real time and scan each side of the pixel.

The video detection system can also perform operations such as automatic positioning, comparison screening, and database storage. Some video detection systems also have computer-controlled autofocus and illumination functions.

In actual use, the operation of the video detection system is very simple. The Rollscope focuses on the surface of the drum body to be inspected, and the inclined light source casts a shadow in the cells so that the size and shape of each cell can be determined in a pixel manner. By refocusing at the bottom of the cell, the system automatically calculates the depth and volume of each cell.

Second, strategic alliances Shima American and Tegatron have recently formed a strategic alliance with the goal of providing services to the rotary gravure and flexographic printing industries. This is the combination of the two giants in the industry, especially the combination of the Micro-Check XYZ software developed by Shimar and the advanced microscopy technology made by Tegatron.

In the early 1980s, Tegatron introduced the first "plug and play" video inspection system in the gravure industry - a rollscope system featuring a mechanized focusing device and light and Depth is adjustable. In 1996, Shima developed Micro-Check XYZ software based on the Microsoft Windows 98 operating platform. This software is not only suitable for desktop computer systems, but also for portable computer systems.

Currently, the application of typical rollscope microscopes and simulation generators is still very common, and it can be upgraded to a PC-based system by combining it with the latest Micro-Check XYZ software (designed and developed by Shima). .

Third, can meet the various needs of the video detection system Shima's video detection system has a variety of types for customers to choose from, the simplest of which is a "plug and play" TA system, which is an economic The type of product is completed manually when measuring the engraved mesh. The system consists of the following parts: Tegatron Rollscope microscope with four objectives; an analog generator; internal depth gauge; CCD color camera and color monitor. The horizontal and vertical lines intersect to form a single cell, and the width, height and depth of the cell can be displayed on the screen. The TA system costs $14,995 and it can be upgraded to a TMC system.

There are also systems with slightly higher degrees of automation, such as UMC, TMC, and EMC systems. Each system includes a computer and is preloaded with the Micro-Check XYZ software program and an automated XY multi-cell measurement system. The difference between these products is mainly the size of the observation range.

The UMC video detection system is the most advanced product, capable of ultra-precise imaging, and is very suitable for the detection of high-end products. This system features a custom UniRollscope microscope and a segmented micrometer with enhanced illumination, sharper images and more stable positioning.

If you are very familiar with the Tegatron scope microscope, then you can choose the TMC type video detection system. This type of video inspection system is equipped with a Tegatron Rollscope microscope and an internal depth gauge, and has the ability to focus and adjust light on the screen remotely.

For those jobs that are not too demanding, or if your factory wants to reduce costs and save costs as much as possible, the EMC system is a good choice. This system uses an ECO Rollscope microscope and a segmented micrometer.

The above automatic systems are composed of a Pentium desktop computer (pre-loaded with the latest measurement software), a 17-inch color monitor, a built-in Zip drive, a CCD color camera, and a Windows 98 operating system. of. Each model has four objectives: 5x, 10x, 20x, and 40x. However, the EMC type of video detection system has only 10x, 20x, and 40x three contact lenses, and the price is about between 19995 and 219995 US dollars.

Fourth, begin to show their prominence The latest type of inspection and quality control system listed in Shima's product manual is the company's new 3D Laser-Mic video inspection system. Like all rollscope video inspection systems, this new type of video The detection system also consists of three parts. However, unlike all systems described above, this system consists of a new 3D Laser-Mic (rollscope) microscope and Micro-Check software and a portable PC system.

This video detection system is specially designed for the detection of anilox rollers, gravure plate cylinders, flexo plates and other fine products. The 3D Laser-Mic video system is compact, compact and fully portable. This ground-breaking device accurately measures and displays on the screen in real time the details of all carved positive or negative (ie raised or recessed) images. In addition, compared with other products, it also has a difference, that is, it can be used in any actual production environment, even in the production workshop, but not necessarily in a clean and tidy interior.

The control of light by other types of systems is done manually, and the system is different. The laser light it emits is automatically controlled by the computer. The 3D Laser-Mic is mounted on a three-way platform. Each axis is driven by a steeper motor. Position accuracy is within 5 microns, so it can be easily aligned. Various details. The system is equipped with a standard 10x objective.

The new 3D Laser-Mic video inspection system is simple to operate and can be placed on any flat surface, such as a flexo plate or any curved surface. Its base is self-adjusting and does not require manual adjustment.

One of the most interesting features of Shima's 3D Laser-Mic video inspection system is that it uses three light sources. The system is equipped with a dual laser source that can emit laser beams from two different directions, and coaxial or tilted white light penetrates the objective. Depending on the characteristics of the material being examined and the required details, the functions of the various light sources are also different. For example, when using a dual laser to detect a flexographic plate, the convex side of each halftone dot can be accurately inspected by passing the 3D information to a computer and obtaining a magnified 3D view on the screen.

The 3D Laser-Mic system can check the height, depth, width, and shape of any target, and it is extremely accurate. As long as a simple computer command, it can also measure the actual volume of the anilox and gravure plate rollers on the Internet. In addition, the system has the advantage that it can also be used to measure the roughness of the surface of the anilox roller and gravure plate cylinder, and it is a non-contact system that does not cause any damage to the surface. . The 3D Laser Micscope system (plus portable PCs and application software) costs about $30,000.

Attached: Shima American Company Profile Shima American Company was established in 1963, mainly engaged in import and export and transportation business. In the same year, the company began selling Nachi bearings. Its parent company is one of Japan's oldest trading companies - shima Trading Trading Co., Ltd. Established in 1904, shima Trading Trading Co., Ltd. was mainly engaged in importing chemical products from North America.

By 1970, as the bicycle industry was thriving in North America at the time, Shima Trading Company began exporting a large number of chain and Futa-ba bicycle accessories to North America, and the company's business was very hot. In 1973, Shima Trading became the exclusive distributor of Kanebo Lta's PVA marble, which is used to process rollers and other products used in the printing industry.

Seven years later, the Shima Trading Company began to import sports towels from Sammy Sports and automotive leather from Kanebo Absorber. Later, as an exclusive importer of hair removal waxes produced by Perigot (Paris), the company began to enter a very promising industry. Moreover, in 1982, the company expanded its business scope and started to get in touch with semiconductors and hard drives. And grinding products.

At present, Shima Trading Co., Ltd. has a wide range of businesses, including petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and confectionery. The company's main products include: food additives, dairy products and edible oils, plastics, ceramics, ceramic coatings, electrolytes, and synthetic diamonds. It also produces a variety of lubricants and additives. In addition, Shima Trading Co., Ltd. also sells electric and electronic raw materials, machinery and metal parts.

In 1998, the company’s new headquarters was built in Glendale Heights.IL, which radiated in the western hemisphere. Shima American is responsible for the sales of the North American, Central American and South American markets. Offices in the UK with at least 44 commercial partners in Europe, including DMV International, Tenne