An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories Fiscal Year 2003 (2003) / Chapter Skim
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10 Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory: Division Reviews
10 Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory: Division Reviews
Pages 127-142
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From page 127... ...
is responsible for the realization and dissemination of the SI unit of length: it conducts R&D in precision-engineered, length-metrology-intensive systems and provides industry-important, length-related measurement, standards, and technology services. PED engages in a diverse set of programs, organized in four groups: Nanoscale Metrology, Surface and Microform Metrology, Engineering Metrology, and Large-Scale Coordinate Metrology.
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From page 128... ...
. During 2002, the Nanoscale Metrology Program consisted of 10 distinct projects organized in two subprograms: · The Nanometrology Science subprogram is composed of six projects oriented toward the fundamental understanding of dimensional, placement, and overlay metrology.
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From page 129... ...
The Nanometrology Tooling subprogram continues to pursue several novel approaches to metrology instrumentation. Progress was made on the molecular measuring machine where 10-nm line writing capability was demonstrated under interferometric control.
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From page 130... ...
Its efforts include research in collaboration with NIST Boulder to decrease the uncertainty of laser interferometry for greater capability in length and frequency metrology; research in dilatometry to measure thermal expansion with lower uncertainty and carry the capability to grid twodimensional expansion; excellent effort in line scale measurement, with continued world-leading capability despite very old equipment and current research to build a new device; cylindricity capability research in collaboration with industry; new laser micrometer methods for the measurement of spherical and cylindrical diameters; and new probing methods primarily for submillimeter feature-measurement on the M48 Moore Special Tool coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and for use in new calibration methodologies (0.5- to 0.1-mm holes)
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From page 131... ...
The group is relied on heavily by customers that use its services, but the cost of NIST calibrations is pushing customers to seek alternative sources of calibration services. The Engineering Metrology Group reported that about 20 to 30 percent of its calibration tasks were completed on time; the M48 Moore Special Tool CMM was identified as a particular problem area in this regard.
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From page 132... ...
The group's gage block calibration capability is world-class, and ongoing research into the effects of deformation and surface finish are maintaining this traceability program at this level. MANUFACTURING METROLOGY DIVISION Technical Merit The goal of the Manufacturing Metrology Division is to fulfill the measurements and standards needs of the United States in mechanical metrology and advanced manufacturing technology by conducting research and development in realizing and disseminating SI mechanical units; developing methods, models, sensors, and data to improve metrology, machines, and processes; providing services in mechanical metrology, machine metrology, process metrology, and sensor integration; and leading in
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From page 133... ...
The division's goals apply across a broad scope of activities related to manufacturing, posing a challenge to division management to integrate the technical activities of the four groups. Recognizing resource limitations, division management has made a strategic decision to limit its scope to four major programs: Advanced Optics Metrology, Mechanical Metrology, Smart Machine Tools, and Predictive Process Engineering.
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From page 134... ...
In this role, the division provides calibration services, develops advanced methods for mechanical metrology, develops national and international standards, and leads efforts with international standards organizations. This role is critical for the nation's manufacturing industry and for distributed international manufacturing and commerce.
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From page 135... ...
The panel recommends that each project be clearly connected to both MEL's strategic plan and the division's mission statement. Division Resources As of January 2003, staffing for the Manufacturing Metrology Division included 41 full-time permanent positions, of which 36 were for technical professionals.
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From page 136... ...
These three programs are managed by ISD. The division also supports the following MEL programs: Predictive Process Engineering, Smart Machine Tools, and Nanomanufacturing.
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From page 137... ...
The Industrial Material Handling project aims by 2005 to provide industries with necessary standards, performance metrics, and infrastructure technology to support the use of noncontact safety sensors and control systems that enable broader use of advanced perception and navigation techniques in the automated guided vehicle industry and other industries. The division is developing an indoor testbed vehicle industry that will support technology integration and testing to study technology transfer to the Industrial Material Handling project from DOD work and from Department of Transportation work on autonomous highway driving and vision-based lane-following.
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From page 138... ...
The Industrial Material Handling and the Performance Measures for Mobile Robots Programs help to make the technology developed in the DOD UGV program element relevant to civilian manufacturing problems. ISD is looking into several alternative approaches to increased transfer of the technology of the ICMS Program.
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From page 139... ...
Other examples include more prominent linkage to model-based machine controller projects (asking how learning and adaptive control can be incorporated) ; a stronger role in projects with the United States Postal Service and related projects in which multivehicle systems will have practical applications; and involvement in critical infrastructure protection, in which the analysis of risk and performance should depend on more detailed models of control, communications, and sensitivity.
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From page 140... ...
Program Relevance and Effectiveness MSID's main objective is to help manage the ever-increasing complexity of the manufacturing environment, in which new systems continually make old ones obsolete and may perform new functions not previously considered part of the manufacturing enterprise; in which new languages, software, operating systems, hardware platforms, software platforms, and communication protocols are introduced with little coordination or external control; and in which competition is fierce and cost-consciousness is increasingly prevalent.
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From page 141... ...
There were, in addition, 6 other full-time staff, who include postdoctoral research associates, students, faculty, and other nonpermanent people 2 more than last year. There were 30 guest researchers, many of whom have long-term associations to the MSID programs.
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