Suffolk-based Mansol Preforms, a manufacturer of glass and ceramic insulators, has invested in a Starrett HDV300 horizontal digital video system, which was supplied by Optimax Imaging Inspection Measurement (www.optimaxonline.com).

Most of Mansol’s insulators are circular, with multiple precisely located holes that play a crucial role in the performance of safety-critical connectors (insulating each pin and providing an accurate location when male and female interconnect).

They have a variety of applications, and it is critical that they are manufactured to the precise dimensions needed.

The Starrett HDV300 is configured like a horizontal profile projector but is fully digitised, with a high-resolution sensor plus LED surface and profile lighting.

It can be used manually for single and low-volume quick checks, or programmed and automated, providing significant time savings.

In place of the traditional paper overlays, digital CAD files can be imported off the network, providing immediate Actual/CAD data overlay and real-time comparative measurement.

Parts can also be programmed into a library, and the touch-screen software will recognise the pattern of the part and measure the position of the holes automatically.

For regularly manufactured parts, this provides a huge time saving over manual measurement.

Adam Kimber, Mansol’s managing director, said: “We are delighted with the new HDV300 and the measurement flexibility that it gives us.

“The library of parts that we have been able to program has already saved us significant time, and we expect this to increase going forward.

“The library — combined with the ease and quality of reporting — has delivered a real return on investment for the company.”