ZYGO’s instruments are also flexible
to change over for the multitude
of applications appropriate for this
technology.”
Woodward uses a range of ZYGO
3D optical profilers, a Verifire™ laser
interferometer, and distance measurement
systems for a wide variety of applications
including:
• surface roughness and waviness
• flatness and parallelism
• height/thickness measurements
• edge radii
• component wear (life testing)
• material porosity
• corrosion characterization
• material failure analysis
• coating thickness
• burr characterization
• defect detection and classification
• GD&T, where applicable
Woodward’s dedication to reliable
metrology helps ensure critical parts and
assemblies will function as designed with
the reliability their customers expect.
sophisticated customer expectations. Also,
ZYGO’s data acquisition speeds outperform
the competition, and the company’s data
analysis is a crucial differentiator between
instrument suppliers. Apart from adhering
to the ‘standard’ algorithms to produce
‘standard’ measurements, ZYGO provides
tools to segment/parse the data to produce
functional results that other suppliers
cannot. The metrologist must be aware
of the functional characteristics that can
be reported via ZYGO software tools
and use that knowledge to help decide
what instrument to specify for a particular
application.”
Clark continues, “ZYGO has been and
will continue to be a strategic partner in
Woodward’s quest to be an example of
the best use of advanced metrology. All
‘standard’ and technically demanding
non-contact applications are supplied
by ZYGO. We are continuously working
with their application engineers to
expand the technologies offered. This
close relationship allows Woodward to
implement the advantages of non-contact,
interferometric 3D methods throughout
our manufacturing and reap the benefits
of improved quality and component
performance.”
He concludes, “Many times, problemsolving
and development does not come at
a fast pace. When you have a solid, intimate
relationship between companies, great
accomplishments are produced in a timely
manner to help both companies thrive.
We have individuals in both companies
that are dedicated to offering feedback
and requirements, interacting together
and coming to a metrological solution that
supports Woodward’s needs and, in many
cases, expands the offerings of ZYGO.”
ZYGO’s 3D optical metrology instruments
have also made a significant impact
on other aspects of Woodward’s
manufacturing operations. For example,
the company uses areal measurements
to examine and analyze component wear.
Combining the 3D data with in-house
scanning electron microscopy information,
Woodward can determine the root cause of
an issue more quickly and more precisely
than using either method independently.
Also, the company has been able to
“tune” its manufacturing processes using
the 3D data. In many cases, insights into
the surface quality and process control
have improved Woodward’s overall
product performance. The company has
been able to identify key characteristics
of its manufactured surfaces that, when
monitored by 3D non-contact inspection,
result in a real differentiator in the markets
served.
As for choosing the optimum provider for
3D metrology instruments, Clark explains,
“When we finally needed to fix on one
supplier for all of our metrology needs,
we chose ZYGO because the company
supplies specialized optics (and other
hardware) to accommodate various areas
of interest and resolutions required to
gauge the components. ZYGO is [also]
an optics manufacturer and therefore,
can design and build many instrument
components that are specific to the
metrological/application task. There are
other metrological instrument companies
that can integrate components to produce
a solution, but ZYGO has capabilities
to create new designs to satisfy more
Verifying edge callouts on production fluid flow control components
For further information, please visit www.zygo.com
8 PECM Issue 45