The Challenge: Traceability and Precision in Aerospace

In the aviation industry, safety and traceability are non-negotiable. Aircraft brake pads are critical components that are typically engraved or printed with essential information, including part numbers and serial numbers. Accurately identifying these characters, verifying color bands, and precisely measuring rivet hole diameters are vital steps to ensure accurate maintenance and proper inventory management.

Historically, quality control for these brake pads required tedious manual labor. Workers had to manually measure rivet holes, record data, physically flip the heavy pads for visual inspection, and take photographs for archiving. This process was not only slow and labor-intensive but also prone to human error, creating bottlenecks in production and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) workflows.

The Solution: Openex All-in-One Automated Inspection System

To solve these challenges, Openex Automation designed a customized, fully automated visual inspection and handling system.

Our equipment captures both the identity information and quality metrics of the entire brake pad in a single, high-speed pass. By digitizing the process, we provide 100% data traceability while completely eliminating the need for manual measuring, recording, and photographing.

Watch the Machine in Action:

Core Inspection Capabilities

The system is engineered to perform simultaneous metrology and defect/ID detection:

• Dimensional Measurement: High-precision non-contact measurement of the brake pad’s overall thickness and rivet hole diameters.
• Defect & ID Recognition: Advanced vision algorithms perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to read and log serial/part numbers, as well as accurately identify specific color bands printed on the pads.

Key Equipment Features & ROI

Designed for high throughput and maximum flexibility, this system delivers immediate ROI for aerospace manufacturers:

• High-Speed Throughput: The system inspects 800 to 1,000 pieces per hour, drastically reducing cycle times compared to manual checks.
• Micron-Level Precision: Achieves a dimensional measurement accuracy of ±0.08mm, ensuring strict compliance with aviation safety standards.
• Unmatched Compatibility: To minimize the customer’s capital expenditure, a single machine is engineered to be compatible with 8 different sizes of aircraft brake pads.
• Automated Loading & Rapid Changeover: Features an automated loading/unloading mechanism. It supports the quick exchange of loading tooling and up to 6 different types of carriers. Complete product changeover (from one pad size to another) can be executed in just 5 to 15 minutes.

Conclusion

By integrating advanced vision technology with flexible automation, Openex has transformed aircraft brake pad inspection from a manual bottleneck into a seamless, data-rich process. Manufacturers and maintenance facilities can now ensure 100% accuracy and complete digital traceability for every part that leaves the floor.

Looking to automate your aerospace or heavy-duty part inspection? Contact Openex Automation at [email protected] today to discuss your customized vision solution.