What to put in a request for an inline inspection system
A request for inline inspection needs web width, top speed, a definition of the smallest defect, barcode yes or no, colour measurement yes or no, and the number of shifts.
When you ask for a quote on inline inspection, write at least the web width, the top speed, how the smallest defect you must see is defined, whether you need barcode, whether you need colour measurement, and how many shifts you run. Without these, the quotes cannot be compared. Do not write only “we want a full-inspection system.”
Why it is judged this way
Two quotes that differ by a factor of two often differ because one includes the lights and the waste ejection, and the other is a camera only. Lock the scope on the request, and the price can be talked about afterwards. Before you write the smallest defect as 0.1 mm, check that the pixel at that width can do it. Otherwise you are buying a sentence that cannot be done.
What to compare
| What you see | What to call it | What not to do |
|---|---|---|
| Width, speed, and a defect definition are written | The prices can be compared | Write only the words “full inspection” |
| You want a barcode grade | State whether it is a camera reject or a verifier grade | Write vaguely that it can read a barcode |
| Lights and waste ejection are not written | Ask until it is clear, then compare | Treat them as already included |
At job change or when a roll is opened
- Fill in the web width, the top speed, and the material.
- When you write the smallest defect, attach a pixel estimate.
- List whether barcode, colour measurement, waste ejection, and lights are in scope.
