User, 18 Oct 2026: use real 40x40 profiles, make a render with text
pointing out the parts to show the investor; the ring lights looked
like they were floating.
- build_station.py: frame drawn from the real 8-slot 40 series section
(profile_shape: slots, centre bore, corner cavities; 40x80 with centre
cavity) and 24 cast angle brackets; top beams now butt between the
uprights; label-camera posts moved beside the cameras so both ring
lights clamp straight to them; top line-scan on a side post with
visible camera plate and light hangers; slide strips on carrier angles,
pulley axles, end-stop posts, presence-sensor brackets, backlight post,
cabinet on base crosses, chute on two supports and clear of the rail,
pneumatics rail, stack light on the back upright, touch screen on the
front end upright. A connectivity check at the end lists any part that
does not reach the floor through touching parts: none.
- render_annotated.py (FreeCAD): front three-quarter view, camera backed
off so nothing is clipped, no navigation cube or preselection, label
positions projected from the camera and checked with marker renders.
- annotate_render.py (Pillow): title, 16 labels in two columns, leaders
assigned so none cross -> inline-qc-station-annotated.png.
- render_station.py: same camera and preselection fixes; all six views
re-rendered.
- BOM: 32 m of 40x40 in 45 pieces; total still USD 16k to 33k.
- inline-optical-qc.md and README updated; .gitignore for the render
intermediates.
User, 18 Oct 2026: create a setup for the inline optical QC, an
aluminium extrusion frame with all sensors and a conveyor mounted to it.
- docs/equipment/inline-qc-station/: FreeCAD script (build_station.py)
and model (.FCStd) of one station, 1.9 x 0.65 x 1.5 m on 27 m of
40x40 and 3.8 m of 40x80 profile: rim-belt conveyor (two 6 mm PU round
belts under the unrecorded rim, open centre), label gate with top and
bottom colour cameras on the fly, inspection position with a lift and
rotate chuck (75 mm lift, expanding mandrel, belt-driven servo), top and
bottom 4k line-scans on opposite radii with coaxial, dark-field and
backlights, two warp lasers, optional thermal camera, light-tight black
tunnel with door switch, rodless-cylinder reject pusher with chute and
bin, outfeed stop, cabinet, PLC, NixOS edge PC, HMI, stack light.
- render_station.py renders six views (open and closed iso, front, plan,
inspection detail and elevation via clipped temporary documents).
- inline-qc-station-bom.csv: 32 lines with sources; USD 16k to 33k per
station without the thermal camera.
- inline-optical-qc.md: new section "The station setup" (flow table,
inspection zone, cycle ~5 to 6 s, control, BOM by group, open points);
cost table updated (two launch stations ~USD 50k to 105k, still inside
the metrology launch tier); Duplex/Classic flow now via the conveyor.
- README bullet and tree.