Image-based measurement of the dimensions and of the axis straightness of hot forgings

Non-contact measurement of shapes and dimensions is currently quite a common issue. A lot of systems with different speeds and accuracies are in the market. Measurement of high temperature objects is, however, a very special task which ensures a specific solution. This paper presents a measurement system composed of two high resolution single-lens reflex cameras and a software application, which is designed for the fast measurement of shapes and dimensions of rotationally symmetric forgings. The software computes the length, diameter, and straightness of the axis, based on a 3D model constructed from four boundary curves of the forging captured in two images. Experimental measurements have shown an error of up to 2% for the length measurement and 1% for the diameter measurement. Results are available in a few seconds. The proposed measurement approach based on boundary curves shows a great potential for practical use in forging plants.