Although many wedge wires have tight tolerances, that doesn't mean that all wedge wire customers have the ability to verify their final shape in order to confirm that it meets both mechanical properties and corner/nose measurements. Some screen manufacturers do have vision systems to verify the screen slot widths between wedge wires and may be able to look at cross sections of the wedge. Many can only trust that the producer of the wedge wire is meeting the specification. That is why it's critical for screen manufactures to align themselves with a vendor who adheres strictly to the requirements laid out by them and the screen designers.
It's not an unheard-of occurrence to run into the situation where Ulbrich has reviewed a customer print and we've had to request revisions only to have the customer come back to us saying, "My current supplier makes it to print." As a follow up we always request a sample to verify the measurements and in the vast, vast majority of cases the wedge wire isn't to print, and the customer has never been aware of that fact.
Just like with many other industries, screen wire specifications continually get tighter and tighter. As a result, it's critical to select a wedge wire vendor who not only invests in the latest technology to manufacture that wire but also invests in the appropriate testing equipment and vision systems to guarantee you're getting what you're ordering.
Having a long term understanding of all the factors that go into making a successful wedge wire/profile bar is an important factor too. Due to Ulbrich being so diverse in the products we manufacture, our quality systems from other industries flow through our entire business. The same care and quality standards that have gone into successfully manufacturing our aerospace and medical applications for decades also apply to our wedge wire as well as all other products that we produce.
