Slit Width Evaluation with a Digital Microscope for the Top/Bottom Bonding of the Big End of Connecting Rods

Connecting rod

Application

Connecting rods convert the up/down motion of pistons in engine cylinders into the rotational movement of crank shafts. The section of the connecting rod linked to the crank shaft is referred to as the “big end,” and it can be split into upper and lower portions. These two sections are connected by bolts called con-rod bolts. The width of the slits between the upper and lower parts must comply with the design specifications to ensure that they are firmly secured and able to withstand the extensive rotation of the crank shaft. For quality management, precise measurements of the slit width must be taken using a microscope. However, the magnification rates that are required to adequately assess the slit width impede observation of the slit in its entirety, making it difficult to locate anomalies that would be visible with a complete image.

The Olympus solution

Observation/measurement using an Olympus DSX^® series digital microscope and its image stitching feature

Product characteristics

• An automatic stitching feature produces a single image of the entire big-end slit, even under high magnification.
• Measurement results are provided directly on the observation screen.
• Automatic edge detection generates uniform data quality, independent of operator skill level.