This is part of our series covering automation technologies you can find at IMTS 2026. Check out our other articles: Robotic Solutions, Material Handling & Unattended Operation Systems, Tool Change and Management Automation Solutions, Workholding Automation Innovations, Automated Scrap and Coolant Solutions, Digital Solutions that Improve Shopfloor Productivity, Advanced Machine Tool Automation Features, and Automation Solutions for Secondary Processes.Automation shouldn’t stop once the chips are made — automating inspection and quality control (QC) ensures your shop maintains throughput and consistency. The Quality Assurance sector at IMTS 2026 showcases how traditionally manual, time-consuming QC steps can be streamlined or even brought in line with production. This is crucial for lights-out manufacturing; you want to catch issues early without constant human oversight. Key technologies you’ll see at IMTS 2026: 1. In-Process Probing on Machines: Most modern CNC machines can be equipped with touch probes that automatically measure the part during the machining cycle. For example, a touch probe from Renishaw, Hexagon, Zeiss, or Blum-Novotest can touch key part features after machining passes and update offsets or verify dimensions. This means the machine self-inspects critical features and can even correct for minor tool wear. Because the machine self-corrects, it reduces scrap and saves time by eliminating the need for manual measurements. 2. On-Machine Tool Monitoring (Laser/AE Sensors): In-process tool monitoring can ensure that worn or broken tools don’t make bad parts. Machines may use a laser tool setter, such as those supplied by Blum-Novotest, Renishaw, Marposs, Heidenhain, or Hexagon, to scan a tool’s profile for wear or an acoustic sensor listening for breakage. These automated systems provide assurance that tools are cutting as expected, often automatically changing the tool or alerting the user when problems occur. Thanks to advanced CNCs, some can even adjust tool paths to accommodate tool wear. 3. Robotic Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM) Loading: CMMs traditionally require an operator to place parts for measurement. However, today, a robot arm can load parts onto a CMM or optical scanner. This can turn inspection into an unattended process, enabling lights-out measurement in some instances, with the system segregating any parts that fail to meet tolerance. Zeiss’s ScanBox combines a robot and 3D scanning sensor for fully automated measurement. Keyence VL-800 Scanner features advanced AI for intuitive operation and full 360 3D scanning. Similar products are available from Hexagon, Renishaw, Nikon, Optical Gaging Products, and Mitutoyo. Many CMMs can run through verification cycles automatically, but pairing that capability with robotic or conveyor loading systems can fully automate the inspection process. 4. Vision Inspection Systems: Cameras and 3D scanners are increasingly used for quality checks and integrated into the inspection line. In some cases, laser scanners can check a surface finish as the part exits the machine. Creaform’s R-Series scanning system integrates with robotic arms, and companies like Nikon, Heidenhain, Zeiss, and Mitutoyo showcase these solutions. Vision systems are beneficial for detecting defects, verifying the presence or absence of features, or doing 100% inspection of simple features like drilled holes. By automating quality checks, even a small shop can dramatically improve inspection processes without hiring an army of inspectors. Visual scanners are excellent at identifying surface features and alerting when they are out of tolerance, even with complex parts. While this hand scanner is being manually operated, automated systems are available, and both provide comprehensive inspection data quickly. 5. Integrated Statistical Process Control (SPC): Modern quality automation isn’t just about measuring — it’s about analyzing measurements. Software tools like Mitutoyo MeasureLink and those provided by Advantive can automatically log all the data from probes, CMMs, and vision systems into an SPC program that analyzes the information. If trends show a dimension drifting, the system can flag it or even adjust the CNC offsets to compensate. Automating this data collection and analysis helps small shops maintain rigorous quality standards and traceability with minimal manual data entry — particularly valuable for shops working in industries that require ISA certification. Statistical process control enables users to analyze the data collected overtime and identify problems as they emerge. 6. Calibration and Machine Health Monitoring: Another area slowly seeing more automation is validating the machine tool. Devices like ballbar testers or laser calibration systems can be run periodically to check alignment and positional accuracy. Some high-end machining centers have auto-correction routines to fine-tune their kinematics. Caron Engineering, for example, has a package that enables users to monitor the machine's health through numerous sensors, and machine monitoring suppliers like MachineMetrics can aggregate sensor data from the machine tool to provide a comprehensive readout of machining conditions. The East Building at IMTS features a number of suppliers in this area, helping their users catch drift early and avoid bad parts down the line. 7. Automatic Reject Part Selection and Control: If a part is measured and found out of tolerance by an automated system, what then? Advanced setups like those provided by Shuttleworth automatically separate that part, distinguishing parts found in-tolerance from rejects. This can be done with a robot arm or a trap door on the conveyor, allowing production to continue uninterrupted when a defective part is found. Operators can review the flagged parts later, making it a simple yet often-overlooked automation that prevents QC from becoming a bottleneck. 8. AI for Visual Quality Inspection: Some shops are leveraging AI algorithms for surface defect detection or pattern recognition that a human inspector would do. A camera from Nikon, Mitutoyo, Optical Gaging Products, or Heidenhain with AI can automatically examine a machined surface for scratches or a casting for porosity. For example, Google Cloud’s manufacturing AI aims to apply this technology to inspection processes to help even smaller manufacturers identify subtle defects or process deviations without dedicated QC personnel. Some of Nikon's automated vision systems can now use AI to automatically detect features that are out of tolerance, sending alerts to enable team members to address the issue. 9. Automated CT Scanning: Some inspection systems known for taking a long time have recently seen automation advances. Lumafield, for example, has the Triton system, which fully automates CT scanning for parts, enabling deep inspection of complex parts, including internal features. This is ideal for products produced partially through additive processes, as it enables users to inspect inaccessible areas of the part fully. 10. Data-Sharing Systems: A common thread in many of these technologies is the underlying ability to quickly share information between different team members. Technologies listed above like Mitutoyo’s MeasureLink derive part of their benefit from the ease of sharing relevant data to interested parties. Lumafield Voyager system is a browser-based platform for sharing 3D inspection data with engineering teams over any distance. These systems not only collect and help analyze data but also make it simpler to distribute without having to convert or send files. These 10 QC automation technologies are only the beginning. Start exploring dozens of solutions using the IMTS Search Function. Connect with specialists via the IMTS Show Planner. Mark your calendar for IMTS 2026, Sept. 14-19, 2026, in Chicago, and register today at IMTS.com/Register! You’ll see new solutions unveiled live, have the perfect chance to see them in action, and talk directly with the experts. Do you have input about this article? Tell us about it.Interested in more automation technologies you can find at IMTS? Check out our other guides below:10 Robotic Solutions You Can Find at IMTS 202610 Material Handling & Unattended Operation Systems you can find at IMTS 202610 Tool Change and Management Automation Solutions at IMTS 202610 Workholding Automation Innovations to See at IMTS 2026 From Waste to Workflow: 9 Automated Scrap and Coolant Solutions at IMTS 20269 Digital Solutions that Improve Shopfloor Productivity at IMTS 20267 Advanced Machine Tool Automation Features to See at IMTS 2026From Clean to Complete: 4 Automation Solutions for Secondary Processes at IMTS 2026
Discover 10 ways automation is transforming quality control — from in-process probing to AI inspection – helping shops boost throughput, accuracy, and lights-out readiness.
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