Inline particle detector

Technical cleanliness is a decisive criterion for the service life of highly stressed components. Contamination with metal particles proves particularly critical. One single particle can lead to the failure of an entire component assembly. Today, the standard analysis according to VDA 19, a standard for the cleanliness of products defined by the German Association of the Automotive Industry, is carried out on a random sample basis. However, the question of whether a component is clean enough for the next production step cannot be answered satisfactorily in the line.

Quantitative 100 percent control in the production line

The Fraunhofer IPM inline particle detector enables 100 percent purity control directly in the line. The system detects particulate impurities on the component non-contacting and evaluates them. Complex extraction procedures are no longer necessary and the results are available in real time. If the quantity of impurities exceeds a defined threshold value, the component is sorted out or cleaned again and reintroduced into the production process.

The optics and illumination of the inline particle detector are housed in a miniaturized measuring head that can be traversed over the component by a robot arm. Particulate contamination is detected by a combination of different imaging methods. Fraunhofer IPM draws on extensive system competence to adapt the imaging technology to almost any task. This enables the the reliable detection of particles even on distinctly structured surfaces – for example on complex components or assembled circuit boards.

Quality assurance through reliable classification of all particles

All particles are reliably classified according to type and size. The data collected can be used in a user-friendly manner,  e.g. for controlling the production process or for displaying and storing the results in existing quality documentation systems.