Industrial Materials Processing P/L (t/a Laser & Press) uses InspecVision - from Advanced Sheetmetal Technologies - which employs an ultra high resolution static camera and powerful software to digitally capture the component to be copied.

The Emu Plains based company provides a 3D CAD detailing service, Laser profile cutting & press brake folding of a large variety of stainless steel products, including arrester traps, grated drains, urinals and toilets, cisterns, wash troughs, sinks and basins, work benches, drinking fountains, grab rails - and even commissioned art.

"The supplied part or a cardboard template is imaged by InspecVision, which then produces a CAD file ready for cutting of a new part," said operator George Murray at Laser & Press.

"Replicating the dimensions of a relatively simple part or template might take us as little as five or ten minutes.

"Without InspecVision, it would take substantially longer if the customer hadn't supplied us with a dxf file - particularly if there were radiuses or multi-radiuses that had to be worked out.  The job of measuring and drawing could take hours, depending on the shapes.

"The equipment is particularly useful for one-off reverse engineering jobs.  Some parts we wouldn't have considered making at all, because they were too complex and would cost too much.  But now they can be done quickly and inexpensively.

"As a result, we're definitely offering a better service to our customers.  We can do things we couldn't do before, in a reasonable time.  This will help our company to win more work," Mr Murray said.

He said that InspecVision was very easy to learn for anyone who had a CAD background.

"Even operators who don't have that much experience find it is not that hard to use.  They can pick it up quite quickly, even though the skills required to operate InspecVision are different from the traditional techniques of measuring and drawing."

The ongoing back-up provided by Advanced Sheetmetal Technologies meant that answers to questions were always available.  "They're there all the time - we can call them up.  If they can't help us immediately, they'll get back to us," he said.

"InspecVision means we can offer a better service to our customers and do so more cost-effectively.  I'd definitely recommend the equipment to other companies like ours."

The equipment's patented technology offers many distinct advantages over other imaging systems.

• Speed - complete component measurement at speeds of 100 to 7000 (or more) times faster than competing systems.
• Cost - 1/2 to 1/3 the price of the lowest priced competing systems.
• Reliability - No moving parts to recalibrate, less to wear out, unlike competing system which have expensive and sensitive scanning lasers or moving cameras.
• Accuracy - No moving parts means near perfect repeatability and better accuracy.
• Robustness - Unlike competing systems the InspecVision system is extremely tolerant of vibration, dirt and scratches on the glass measurement surface.

Developed by European company InspecVision Ltd, the product has several standard sizes but can easily be configured to dimensions that suit client needs.

InspecVision Ltd was founded by Mike Antonis and Jan Antonis.  Mike Antonis drew on 20 years experience in the sheet metal industry as the manager of the largest installation of FINN-POWER machines in Europe.

Dr. Jan Antonis has a PhD in Computer Vision and Dr. Robert Hamilton, who has a PhD in Robotics, provided the technical expertise.

For more information, please contact Mr Andrew Bentrup, Advanced Sheetmetal Technologies Pty Ltd.  Unit 2/6 Northumberland Road, Caringbah NSW 2229.  Ph: (02) 8536 5800, fax: (02) 8536 5840.  Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

In New Zealand: Automated Sheetmetal Technologies Ltd PO Box 7786 Sydenham Christchurch NEW ZEALAND Ph: (03) 341 1080 fax: (03) 341 1090