Controlling insertion or press-fit force in production

An under-assembled component holds poorly. An over-assembled component is damaged. The force-displacement curve reveals everything — provided it is measured on every cycle.

Context and challenges

Press-fit insertion or component assembly must comply with a precise force window: too low, the assembly is incomplete; too high, the part or housing is damaged. Visual inspection or torque control alone is insufficient to guarantee mechanical compliance. Only direct measurement of force as a function of displacement can qualify each operation.

What needs to be measured

Force-displacement curve over the entire insertion stroke, peak force and final force — compared against OK/NOK thresholds defined during qualification.

PM Instrumentation solution

The measurement chain integrates a miniature force sensor or annular load cell positioned in the press axis, coupled with a displacement sensor. A conditioner acquires both signals synchronously and generates the force-displacement curve in real time. The system automatically compares peak force and final force against compliance thresholds; the OK/NOK result is available as a PLC output at the end of each cycle. The architecture is adaptable to manual, pneumatic, or servo-electric presses.

Benefits

• Detection of under-assembly and over-assembly on every cycle
• Operation qualification by curve, not just by threshold value
• Real-time OK/NOK result available for the PLC
• Full traceability of insertion curves per part
• Applicable to manual, pneumatic, and servo-electric presses

Sector: Automotive, aerospace, electronics, mechanical | Quantities: Force, displacement