Consistent criteria across every work shift
Defined inspection recipes ensure consistent assessment criteria across operators and work shifts.
CRETEC /QBIC Wheels.
QBIC Wheels · Gigapixel EOL Inspection
QBIC Wheels.
Optical surface inspection of aluminium wheels.
QBIC Wheels by CRETEC GmbH inspects cast and forged wheels for scratches, coating defects, inclusions, pores and contamination. It supports painted, diamond-cut, polished and unfinished aluminium surfaces.
The linked brochure contains an earlier published practical value. The current cell and line cycle times are described on this page.
> 1 Giga pixelImage information per wheel
100 %Inspection of every wheel
AIDefect classificationRule-basedImage pre-processing, post-processing & measurement
EOLIntegration into production
QBIC Wheels in Motion
The installation.
In use.
QBIC Wheels · 3D detailed views
The technique.
In detail.
Views into the inspection cell, image acquisition on the wheel and arrangement of the cameras.
Inside the inspection cell
Enlarge the view ↗
Image acquisition at the wheel
Enlarge the view ↗
Cameras from multiple perspectives
Enlarge the view ↗The task
Complex surfaces.
Constant standards.
Reflections, different designs and hard-to-see areas make visual inspection of aluminium wheels challenging. At the same time, inspection decisions must keep pace with production.
QBIC Wheels combines coordinated camera perspectives, controlled lighting and AI evaluation. The evaluation follows defined inspection criteria and provides a basis for comprehensible quality decisions.
QBIC Wheels
Technical specifications
- Wheel diameter
- 14–26″
- Wheel weight
- Up to 30 kg
- Cycle time per cell
- 10 seconds
- Parallel operation
- A line cycle time of 5 seconds or less using multiple parallel QBIC cells, depending on cell count and line design.
- Wheel types
- Cast and forged aluminium wheels
- Image data
- More than one gigapixel per wheel
- Surfaces
- Painted, diamond-cut, polished and unfinished.
- Inspection areas
- Front, rear, rim barrel and spaces between spokes.
- Detected defect types
- Scratches, coating defects, inclusions, pores and contamination.
Inspection criteria and validation
Defect thresholds, detection performance and false rejects are evaluated using representative wheels and agreed quality criteria. Inspecting every wheel does not imply a guarantee of detecting every defect.
The inspection sequence
From the conveyor
to the inspection result
Four steps connect the component with a documented decision.
- 01 / INFEED
Receive the wheel
The wheel is transported to the test area. Component assignment and inspection recipe are coordinated with the line concept.
- 02 / ACQUIRE
Acquire surface images
Multiple camera perspectives and defined illumination generate the image data for the agreed test areas.
- 03 / ANALYSE
Evaluating deviations
The image evaluation localizes and classifies relevant features based on the specified error classes.
- 04 / TRANSFER RESULTS
Issuing a decision
The inspection result is transmitted to the line control. Documentation and traceability are integrated in a project-specific manner.
Industrial integration
It fits in your line.
And into your processes.
An inspection system needs coordinated optics, mechanics and control technology. We therefore consider the entire application.
- Inspection scope
- Surfaces and relevant defect classes are defined based on your wheels and quality criteria.
- Cycle time & handling
- Conveyor technology, positioning and test sequence are adapted to the production.
- Control system
- Connection to the PLC, with coordinated enable signals, status messages and inspection results.
- Data and Quality
- OPC UA communication as well as MES/QM connection according to the agreed interface scope.
- Evidence
- The scope of performance and acceptance criteria are assessed with reference parts and a defined test catalogue.
The benefits
Ensure quality.
Relieve the burden on production.
The goal is reliable testing with less manual routine and a better database for quality assurance.
Less slippage as a goal
Relevant deviations should be detected before shipment. Detection performance and false rejects are assessed using the inspection sample set.
Recognising decisions
Image data and inspection results support the root cause analysis and coordination between production and quality assurance.
QBIC Wheels: frequently asked questions
Does QBIC Wheels support cast and forged wheels?
Yes. QBIC Wheels inspects aluminium wheels made by either process, from 14 to 26 inches and up to 30 kg.
Which surfaces and areas are inspected?
Painted, diamond-cut, polished and unfinished surfaces. Inspection covers the front, rear, rim barrel and spaces between spokes.
How is a 5-second line cycle time achieved?
Each cell has a 10-second cycle. Multiple cells operating in parallel increase total throughput. With suitable line design, inspected wheels can leave the system at intervals of 5 seconds or less.
How are defects evaluated?
AI detection is combined with rule-based measurement. Defect classes, permitted dimensions and OEM rules are agreed with your quality team and evaluated on reference wheels.
Throughput matched to your line
A 10-second cell cycle corresponds to a theoretical maximum of 360 wheels per hour. Two parallel cells allow a theoretical maximum of 720 wheels per hour. Actual line output depends on infeed, outfeed and availability.
The next step
Show us your wheel.
We’ll show you the new process.
Wheel sizes and variants, examples of relevant errors as well as your target cycle time and the planned line layout help us to get started.
QBIC Wheels request ↗