Ensuring Transmission Integrity: High-Resolution Videoscope Streamlines Inspection Process for Automotive Giant
In the highly competitive automotive industry, quality control is paramount. The internal components of complex assemblies, like transmissions and engine blocks, must be flawless to ensure longevity and performance. Traditional inspection methods for internal channels and hard-to-reach areas often require partial or full disassembly—a process that is time-consuming, costly, and introduces risks of damage.
A leading European automotive manufacturer faced significant downtime and labor costs during the quality assurance phase of its new 8-speed automatic transmission line. The internal oil galleries, crucial for lubrication, needed a 100% inspection rate for casting flaws, burrs, or debris left from the machining process. Disassembling each unit for visual checks was not feasible for production throughput, creating a critical bottleneck.
Microlong proposed its flagship Articulating Industrial Videoscope. This system was uniquely equipped to meet the challenge:
Superior Articulation & Reach: The videoscope's ultra-slim 4mm diameter probe, with 360-degree articulation, effortlessly navigated the complex labyrinth of finished transmission oil galleries without a single disassembly step.
HD Imaging for Defect Identification: The high-brightness LED illumination and 2-megapixel CMOS camera provided crystal-clear, full-HD visuals on the ruggedized tablet interface. This allowed inspectors to identify micron-level imperfections, subtle tooling marks, and potential particulate contamination with absolute confidence.
Efficient Reporting & Integration: The intuitive software enabled inspectors to instantly capture, annotate, and measure any anomalies directly on the screen. Reports with timestamped images were generated automatically and integrated into the plant’s quality management system for full traceability.
The implementation was a resounding success. The inspection time for a single transmission unit was reduced from over 4 hours (for disassembly) to under 20 minutes. This drove a 90% reduction in inspection-related downtime and allowed for 100% quality control coverage on the production line. In the first quarter of use, the team identified a minor machining burr trend from a specific toolhead, enabling proactive maintenance that prevented a potential mass recall. The ROI was achieved within weeks, solidifying the videoscope as an indispensable asset for their precision manufacturing quality standards.
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