Maintaining high-quality standards is critical in the heavy equipment industry. Customers rely on manufacturers to deliver products that perform reliably in harsh and demanding operating conditions. The stakes are high. Any quality deviation or oversight can result in costly claims, repairs, downtime, and damaged relationship
“Bradken has always been an early adopter of new technology, implementing solutions to improve the efficiency and accuracy of our products. We never shy away from rethinking the status quo and our processes to constantly out-edge the competition.” said Vijay Gandhi, Product Services & Solutions Lead at Bradken.
Post-processing a 3D scan in software helps to optimize parts.
Outdated 3D measurement techniques hold back progress
Bradken prioritized top-tier mining equipment, so quality control teams needed advanced inspection techniques to meet high customer standards. However, traditional 3D tools restricted quality control, especially for large, intricate castings, leading to slow inspections and potential measurement errors due to part movement.
“We knew our existing 3D measurement methods were holding us back. The process took too long and required too much effort for what we were trying to achieve.” Vijay put it plainly.
Therefore, Bradken needed a faster, more adaptable 3D measurement solution that could generate accurate, reliable, and repeatable data on all types of parts, regardless of their geometries or the locations where engineers captured the 3D data. As a result, the company naturally turned to 3D scanners.
“Finding quick and accurate 3D scanners was essential to provide our engineering and quality assurance teams with efficient and precise data information that could be used to validate and improve our products,” he explained.
Taking quality control to a whole new level with 3D scanning
When Bradken discovered Creaform’s HandySCAN 3D|BLACK Series, Vijay and his colleagues quickly recognized its potential. The first demo amazed the team.
“We were blown away by how the casting could be moved during scanning without affecting the results. It was a real ‘ah-ha!’ moment, especially since fixed arms required keeping the part still. The 3D scanner eliminated that hassle.”
A Bradken team member uses the HandySCAN 3D to capture 3D measurements of heavy equipment parts.
The HandySCAN 3D was portable and intuitive, unlike the cumbersome tools Bradken was used to. Engineers could scan large, heavy parts without the burden of moving them to specific inspection areas. Engineers could now capture complex castings, which they had previously found difficult to inspect, with a level of detail and accuracy that hadn’t been possible before. The HandySCAN 3D’s flexibility accelerated data collection, reducing quality check time. Detailed 3D meshes helped engineers validate product dimensions swiftly.
The HandySCAN 3D’s scan is replicated with a color map to facilitate post-processing analyses.
Setting new standards in quality control and quality management
The impact of using Creaform’s HandySCAN 3D was immediate and significant. Now, Bradken engineers could easily scan complex parts without complicated setups or repeated measurements. Previously, inspecting intricate castings was a challenge. But with the HandySCAN 3D, teams could scan them effortlessly and get the accurate data needed for quality control and product improvements.
3D scanning tech didn’t just speed up inspections—it changed the way Bradken approached quality control entirely. This capability was invaluable for Bradken’s team collaboration. Engineers and inspection workers could address issues more swiftly and even assist customers remotely with detailed visual data.
“With the introduction of Creaform’s portable 3D scanners, we were now able to scan our massive parts in detail without moving them, archive 3D scans, and reexamine them for product investigation or continuous improvement months and years after,” said Vijay.
The HandySCAN 3D scanner is versatile enough to be used anywhere, whether in the office or on the shop floor.
Bradken’s investment in the HandySCAN 3D has paid off, minimizing the need for excessive inspection steps and product design iterations—a critical win for productivity.
“We now have several HandySCAN 3D scanners. They have become critical tools for us to provide our customers with the heavy equipment and services they expect. It is a great example of Bradken stepping into new technology territories and enjoying the instant payback.” Vijay said.
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