Laser Trackers for Production of Automotive Tooling

PICO EUROPE designs, manufactures, installs and commissions automotive production lines worldwide for many automotive manufacturers including Ford, Jaguar, Scania, Volvo and many others. PICO EUROPE has been using Leica Geosystems Laser Trackers in assembly line production since 1996 and now has a total of five Leica Geosystems Laser Tracker systems.

The object of this case study is to give the reader an insight how a laser tracker is implemented for the production of automotive tooling. Also illustrated is how the laser tracker gives the user a greater understanding of the manufacturing process, enabling him to implement proactive improvements from design right through to assembly line final commissioning. Also included is an overview of PICO EUROPE’s manufacturing process before the use of laser trackers; enabling the reader to draw a contrast between the measuring processes pre and post laser tracker introduction.

PICO EUROPE’s production objective is to assemble every tool that makes up the production line by bringing together pre-machined tool bases, units, form blocks and location pins in the correct dimensional configuration to reflect the design of the car. This procedure is performed at the PICO EUROPE site. The complete assembly line is then tested.

The next challenge is to transport the entire production line piece by piece to the customer’s site and reproduce the dimensional configuration achieved at the PICO EUROPE site before final testing and commissioning can commence. . . . .