Méca-Précis optimises control processes using robotic measurement cells
Méca-Précis implements a robotic measurement cell to streamline its inspection processes. This solution combines a coordinate measuring machine from Mitutoyo with robotics solutions from Engineering Data, effectively removing bottlenecks in the parts inspection process.
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Some trades are passed down from father to son—along with a passion for excellence. When Bruno Mériaudeau speaks about the sophistication of the components produced in his workshop, the sparkle in his eyes and the enthusiasm in his voice, tinged with pride, say it all. This affable and good-humored leader has clearly inherited a deep appreciation for precision engineering. Méca-Précis was founded in 1975 by his father, driven by a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to put his expertise in highly technical component manufacturing to work. This expertise was honed during his time working for the military, where he designed and produced one-off parts tailored to highly specialised applications. His son joined the company in 1982, at a time when Bruno Mériaudeau was the eighth employee of the family business. Today, he is preparing to pass the torch to his own son, Nicolas, who took over the management of Méca-Précis in 2023. The company now employs 45 people and operates a fleet of 25 machine tools, 18 of which are CNC-controlled. Over the course of nearly half a century, the company—based in Châtillon-sur-Indre (36)—has continuously strengthened both its technical expertise and its production capabilities.
Méca-Précis has more than one string to its bow. It now specialises in prototype parts, one-off components, small and medium production runs, and welded mechanical assemblies. As a manufacturer of complex parts for the aerospace and satellite industries, the company has also maintained, for 48 years, the trust of a global leader in carton packaging machinery, for whom it produces parts and complete sub-assemblies. While having the expertise and equipment to manufacture sophisticated components is essential, ensuring these parts meet stringent dimensional requirements is equally critical. To this end, Méca-Précis operates a standard measuring machine on the shop floor, as well as a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) housed in a thermally controlled environment. However, certain aerospace and space-sector clients require 100% inspection of all dimensions on every single part produced, both before and after surface treatment.
When inspection becomes a bottleneck in production
“Dimensional inspection of a single pin takes just one minute—but there can be as many as 300 to check. At the other end of the spectrum, inspecting a single complex component for a satellite can require up to 80 hours,” explains Nicolas Mériaudeau.
In this context, as production volumes increased and multiple palletised machining centres operated through the night, the coordinate measuring machine was no longer able to keep pace. “Our two inspectors were overwhelmed. To maintain a high level of service and manufacturing quality, and to ensure reasonable lead times for our customers, we needed to find a solution to eliminate the bottleneck in the inspection process. We therefore began searching for a way to automate and roboticise the inspection process,” explains Bruno Mériaudeau.
As the manufacturer of the coordinate measuring machine (CMM) used by Méca-Précis was unable to provide a suitable solution, Nicolas Mériaudeau turned to Mitutoyo. Mitutoyo proposed the design of a robotic measurement cell integrating the MiSTAR coordinate measuring machine, in collaboration with Engineering Data, a company specialising in fixturing solutions and the automation of machining centres.
Deployment of the robotic measurement cell
Less than a year after the initial meeting between the teams from Mitutoyo, Engineering Data, and Méca-Précis—with both quality inspectors closely involved throughout the project—the robotic measurement cell was installed in the workshop. Following phases dedicated to developing part inspection programs, system commissioning, configuration, and technical fine-tuning, an additional six months were required before the system became fully operational.
“We have effectively removed the bottleneck that was located in the quality control process. This solution brings us greater flexibility and allows us to significantly increase inspection capacity,” says Bruno Mériaudeau with satisfaction. “If we did not have this robotic measurement cell, we would not be able to cope with the growing production volumes of series-manufactured parts, which are highly demanding in terms of quality control. We now have a solution that fully meets our needs. Throughout this project, we benefited from the quality of exchanges, responsiveness, attentiveness, and geographical proximity of the Engineering Data and Mitutoyo teams,” adds Nicolas Mériaudeau. As a result, the pressure that had been weighing on Méca-Précis’s two inspectors has been significantly reduced.
They can now rely on two measurement solutions to perform all the necessary checks in-house. The robotic cell has significantly reduced their workload by performing automated inspections during the day as well as overnight. Before leaving the workshop, they can load parts into the robotic system, which then carries out the inspections automatically in their absence.
Architecture and operation of the robotic measurement cell
This solution is the result of Engineering Data’s expertise in machine tool loading automation, combined with Mitutoyo’s know-how in dimensional control. The robotic measurement cell is installed within an enclosed structure, defined by glass panels that ensure operator safety while providing full visibility of the system’s internal operation. The cell integrates a multi-axis articulated robot responsible for handling operations, a Mitutoyo MiSTAR coordinate measuring machine designed for shop-floor use, and an automated storage unit capable of accommodating up to 20 pallets on which the parts to be inspected are secured. A loading station, accessible from outside the cell, allows interaction with the operator without interrupting overall operation.
The process begins with the loading phase. The operator places a pallet carrying a part onto the dedicated loading station. Each pallet is designed to hold the component in a position compatible with robotic handling and measurement operations. Using the cell’s human–machine interface, the operator selects the relevant part type. This information is transmitted to the cell’s control system, which automatically associates the component with the corresponding control program. The robot then picks up the pallet and transfers it to the storage unit. This operation can be repeated until the storage system is fully loaded.
Once the pallets have been loaded, the operator initiates the inspection cycle via the interface. The cell then operates autonomously. The robot successively retrieves the stored pallets and places them on the surface plate of the CMM, which is equipped with a clamping device ensuring proper positioning and stability during measurement. The coordinate measuring machine executes the inspection program associated with the part, performing the required dimensional measurements. The duration of this phase depends on the number of features to be checked and the complexity of the component, ranging from a few minutes to several hours.
At the end of the inspection, the robot retrieves the pallet and returns it to the storage cabinet. The cycle then continues automatically until all loaded parts have been inspected. The measurement results are recorded by the system and can be reviewed later by metrology engineers.
The overall operation relies on coordination between the control system, the robot, and the measuring machine. The automation of pallet handling allows the loading operations to be decoupled from the measurement phases, ensuring continuous use of the control equipment while reducing manual handling.
Image1: The Mitutoyo MiSTAR 555 three-dimensional measuring machine, designed for operation in production environments, is installed within Méca-Précis’s robotic control cell. Its accuracy is guaranteed across a wide temperature range, and its absolute encoder ensures high resistance to environmental conditions.
Image 2: From the Easyprod cell's human-machine interface by Engineering Data, the Méca-Précis controller selects the type of part being loaded into the robotic measurement cell. This information is transmitted to the cell’s control system, which automatically associates the part with the corresponding inspection program.
Image 3: The parts to be inspected are mounted on pallets designed to enable robotic handling.
Image 4: The robot handles the loading of the parts to be inspected into the storage area. Then it successively retrieves the stored pallets one by one and places them on the surface of the three-dimensional measuring machine, which is equipped with a clamping device, ensuring precise positioning and stability throughout the measurement process.
