Metalworking
Surface defect detection for machined and fabricated parts
Gaugegrove inspects machined castings, fabricated assemblies, and finished metal parts for surface cracks, coating defects, tool marks, and dimensional anomalies before parts leave the work cell.
What We Detect
Defect vocabulary for machined and fabricated metal
Hairline cracks in machined and cast metal surfaces. Detected with directional raking light and high-contrast imaging to resolve cracks as narrow as 0.3mm.
Gas porosity, shrinkage voids, and metallic inclusions in cast parts. Camera inspection supplements CT sampling by screening 100% of parts before machining.
Abnormal tool-path marks, chatter patterns, and surface texture anomalies from worn cutting inserts. Early detection prevents a full batch of out-of-spec surface finish.
Thin spots, holidays, runs, and adhesion failures in paint, powder coat, and phosphate coatings. Inspected post-coat, before shipping to downstream assembly.
Handling damage, grind marks, and abrasion on finished surfaces. Particularly important for sealing surfaces, bearing journals, and cosmetic-grade parts.
Thread form issues, chamfer missing or undersized, and gross dimensional deviations visible optically. Camera checks replace spot-gauge sampling on high-volume machined parts.
How It Works in Metalworking
Exit inspection at the machine tool
For machined parts, the camera station mounts at the exit of the CNC work cell, typically on a post-machining conveyor or wash/inspection station. Multiple camera angles cover the critical surfaces of the part geometry without part rotation. The edge unit classifies each part and outputs the result to the cell PLC within 40ms.
For fabricated assemblies and formed parts, inspection can be at the end of the weld cell or after passivation treatment. Model training uses captured images from the first production run in shadow mode, so the system is calibrated to your specific part and tooling by the end of the first week.
- Multi-angle coverage without manual rotation
- Directional and structured light options for crack detection
- Works with existing part transport and PLC architecture
- Model retraining when tooling is replaced
Running a machining or fabrication shop?
We'll review your current inspection process, part geometry, and defect history on a 30-minute call and tell you what deployment would look like.