CMC-KUHNKE QbyV SEAM360: Seam Inspection for Oil Filters

Developed by CMC-KUHNKE, our metal packaging inspection specialist company, the SEAM360: Oil Filters is a non-destructive double seam inspection gauge for oil filters. 

The SEAM360 measures the seam thickness and seam length (height) on 100% of the oil filter’s seam – 360 degrees using non-destructive laser technology, without the need to cut or destroy the filter. Conventional seam measurement technology checks at 4 points, avoiding the areas in between. So, you risk missing defects when analyzing your filters. 

Conventional destructive double seam testing methods that involve cutting the seam are unsafe, lengthy and error-prone when dealing with oil filters. The metal is very thick, which requires a special saw. The oil filters are expensive to manufacture, so a destructive seam inspection is very wasteful and therefore can’t be done often. Plus, they only test a handful of points around the seam. Micrometer or seam thickness gauge and destructive tests with a seam scope are limited – you’re missing the most critical information!  

Because our SEAM360 device measures seam thickness and seam height / length at every point around the seam, any bumps, cracked chucks, eccentricity, droops or split seams are easily identified and can be corrected on the seamer. Having a tight and consistent double seam is critical for ensuring customer safety and satisfaction and performance of the filter over time. 

The importance of seam inspection 

Seam inspection is an important check to protect against oil filter defects. With a high-quality, double seam inspection instrument you’ll save time, hassle and cost while protecting yourself against unwanted product recalls. 

A double seam inspection dream

No seam defect can escape the watchful eye of our visual oil filter inspection device.

The SEAM360: Oil Filters will help you to detect all of the following complications:

• Tooling and machinery problems 

• Dead-heads and chuck skids 

• Knocked-down flanges 

• Droops and vees 

• False seams/skipped seams 

• Split seams 

• Broken chucks 

• Overhang 

• Seam bumps 

Modes of Operation 

• Automatic – The SEAM360 automatically rotates the oil filter while it tests one filter at a time in a lab environment. The SEAM360 will produce a report and statistics graphs at the end of the measurement process. 

• Manual – The operator manually rotates the oil filter for spot testing.  

Because all readings are taken automatically and the filter is rotated by the built-in motor, there’s no operator influence on the results.  

Recall protection from double seam inspection 

When performing traditional destructive seam inspection at 2-4 points along the double seam, you risk missing problems that arise as close as a few millimeters from your measurement points. The SEAM360 measures 100% along the double seam and ensures that these faults are detected, eradicating the chance of shipping bad oil filters to your customers.  

Super fast seam inspection  

The SEAM360 features the latest in non-destructive optical technology. It provides seam inspection results in a fraction of the time it takes to do a seam test and with no operator influence on the results!  

Superb seam inspection software

The intuitive seam inspection software clearly points out what the problem is and where it occurred. 

How to use the SEAM360 double seam inspection device

It’s so easy to use the SEAM360 for Oil Filters device. Just place your oil filter in the dedicated space and start the test. Our seam inspection machine highlights defects and provides easy-to-interpret data outputs.  

Additional seam inspection selections   

We make a wide range of visual seam inspection devices and accessories. For example, check out this SEAM60 model made specifically for food can seam inspection or the 360° can inspection module, a highly accurate and reliable mix-up and integrity detection system for lithographed and labeled cans. 

Double seam inspection insight

We like to share the lessons learnt over many decades of seam inspection at Industrial Physics.  Why not double down on your knowledge and visit our blog on how double seam defects can dent your reputation and finances? Or this one that explains how to go about measuring a double seam?