Product type: IFC1
A fully automatic 2D- and 3D optical inspection system for bipolar plates

Inspectoid for fuel cell bipolar plates

A Automated loading and unloading station
B Inspection unit for inner surfaces of drilled holes and slotted holes
C Inspection unit for cell dimensions
D Inspection unit for the cell surface
E Inspection unit for cell edges and code-reading unit

For many years now the fuel cell has been recognized as a sound and sustainable alternative energy source to batteries and electric generators. Fuel cells used in industry are subject to regular checks and appropriate maintenance procedures in order to ensure that they function properly. But fuel cells also have to be treated with great care before they are put into service, i.e. during manufacture. The cells must be fault-free, but even trained human eyes are not infallible. pi4 offers since fourteen years inspection systems that can be integrated seamlessly into production processes. Thus individual cells can be inspected with maximum precision, so that defective cells can be rejected immediately. This, in turn, facilitates work-flow and ensures that your products are of optimum quality.

A - Automated loading and unloading station:

  • Cells conveyed from stowages
  • Inspection results gathered from other stations
  • Results displayed in the customer‘s inspection data-base
  • Cells sorted into different containers depending on inspection result

B - Inspection unit for inner surfaces of drilled holes and slotted holes:

  • Coating defects
  • Crack formations or flaked materials
  • Control for surface deformations

C - Inspection unit for cell dimensions:

  • Measurement by laser
  • Measurement of thickness
  • Evenness and parallelism

D - Inspection unit for the cell surface:

  • Control of top and bottom surfaces
  • Coating defects, crack formations or flaked materials
  • Control for surface deformations

E - Inspection unit for cell edges and code-reading unit:

  • Coating flaws, cracks, flaked materials
  • Recognition of serial numbers (OCR, bar code, etc.)