Automatic inspection - cybernetic machines

The economic reasons for introducing automatic inspection equipment in process and automatic assembly lines are reviewed and it is concluded that cybernetic or self-steering machines are essential for the multi-point inspection system. Two early examples of automatic inspection equipment are described¿a device for locating pin-holes in enamelled copper wire, and a tungsten filament crystal-cleavage tester. The problem of dealing with tolerances on interdependent dimensions is discussed and inspection output logic units are proposed which can carry out automatic limit shifting. An analogue storage device is sometimes useful when a series of successive measurements are made. Stability and machine speed are considered. The cost of automatic inspection equipment is reviewed and the technical and financial considerations involved in adopting the techniques are discussed in general terms.