Our ISO certifications help us to outline and maintain a framework for improving our Quality Management System (QMS).
Our inspection process begins with our experienced setup personnel. With each process setup the part is first verified by the setup operator against the prescribed inspection instruction. Once the setup operator has a part believed to be within specification, the setup part is taken to the inspection area where a dedicated shift inspector checks the part for setup approval. In-process inspections are sampled through the run, and final inspection and a visual audit takes place once all operations are complete.
Estes is a precision fabricator and our state-of-the-art CNC fabricating equipment and creative and innovative thinking allow us to perform to most tolerances with a high level of consistency, accuracy, and repeatability. Factors such as part design and complexity, material selection, tooling, and production processes all impact dimensional tolerances, but our general operating tolerances are +/-.005” for a cut/punch feature size, +/-.010” cut feature to feature, +/-.015” feature to formed edge, and +/-.030” form edge to form edge.
Quality begins in planning, our estimators and project managers review customer prints and specifications to assure product requirements are understood.
The team designs a process flow capable of meeting the customer product requirements. Utilizing controlled programs, routings and inspection plans, the front end creates the documentation and instruction necessary to translate customer requirements to the manufacturing process.
Our experienced production and inspection teams execute the established process flow, using the prescribed programs and inspections in order to assure compliance and satisfaction of the customer requirements. Along the way, team members at every level offer suggestions for correction and improvement of process performance in the fabrication of customers’ product.
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New to Estes in 2020 is the Hexagon RS6 Laser Scanner and Romer Absolute Arm. Introduced in late 2019, the RS6 Scanner is a game changer in laser scanning with the introduction of its blue light laser with SHINE technology that allows nearly every surface type to be properly scanned without altering scanner exposure. This advancement assures more accurate scans and reduces the time and frustrations associated with changing red line scanner parameters or spraying parts. Additionally, Estes has coupled this technology with the power of PolyWorks Inspector, the market leader in 3D metrology.
We believe the addition of the Hexagon Absolute arm with the RS6 Laser Scanner powered by PolyWorks supports our quality policy tenant of employing state-of-the-art technology and will further facilitate our creative, innovative thinking and continual improvement.
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The InspecVision Planar P150.35 2D Scanner helps us ensure the quality of part blanks we fabricate, utilizing cameras to capture the cut perimeter and feature edges of a blank. These scanned perimeter and feature outlines then are compared back to the CAD-generated flat DXF of the part blank, generating a detailed color map indicating the conformance of the part edge versus the engineered blank. This quality step assures our team that the blanking operation setups have been executed correctly, ensuring the quality and accuracy of punched and laser cut parts before they are moved on to forming and assembly operations.
