Following rigorous tests spanning thousands of hours, a new laser radar system for shop-floor quality control has been introduced by the metrology arm of Japanese camera giant Nikon. The APDIS laser radar, an automated, non-contact metrology solution, inspects features at double the speed of the previous version and, according to Nikon, delivers high-accuracy measurements equivalent to those provided by a horizontal-arm CMM.

Nikon Metrology’s laser radar products employ a focused laser beam and heterodyne interferometry to measure range accurately. This configuration produces a sensitive radar that is capable of performing measurements on almost any surface, irrespective of reflection.

Suitable for the repetitive, labour-intensive, complex measuring of objects from a long stand-off distance, and able to access even hard-to-reach areas without the need for photogrammetry targets, retroreflectors, handheld probes or surface preparation, APDIS may be used in numerous manufacturing sectors, including aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, research and indeed any large-scale environment.

A new, high-definition camera coupled with new Nikon confocal optics allow for enhanced viewing of what is being inspected. Better usability results from reducing the unit’s weight by 40% and its size by a quarter, while internal changes and comprehensive testing have further raised the level of reliability.

The APDIS range comprises four models, two of which are the MV430E and MV450E, having a 30 or 50 m radius measuring range respectively. These versions promote the use of APDIS scanners as a non-contact accelerometers by pointing the laser beam at any surface to measure vibrations at up to 2000Hz, which can be useful when assessing installations or equipment.

There are also MV430 and MV450 standard versions without the improvements for applications where top speed and vibration analysis are not required.

For further information
www.nikonmetrology.com

Faro Technologies is releasing its next-generation Vantage laser tracker six degrees of freedom (6DoF) probe. The new 6Probe offers portability and is compatible with Faro Vantage S6 and E6 laser trackers, enabling users to build, inspect and measure products faster and with greater accuracy. In fact, Faro reports that typical users of the new 6Probe can now save at least 30 minutes of time on any given workday.

With kinematic self-identifying styli, users can now change probing tips quickly and measure without any recalibration, while also measuring hidden areas outside of the tracker’s line of sight with wider acceptance angles.

“The next-generation Vantage laser tracker 6DoF probe extends maximum measurement consistency and reliability in a variety of working environments, delivering best-in-class performance through faster and easier probing than previous models,” says Leo Martinez, Faro’s product marketing manager. “With Super 6DoF and conventional 6DoF probing, Faro offers the industry’s most comprehensive 6DoF solutions available.”

Faro ActiveSeek, a feature to automatically locate and follow the active target, enhances 6DoF and standard probing. Trackers from Faro support the patented Super 6DoF TrackArm solution, which allows the Vantage and one or more Faro ScanArms to work together, thus creating an integrated contact and non-contact 3D measurement system for large-volume measurement. With a range of up to 60 m (with a 4 m reach), Super 6DoF eliminates line-of-sight challenges and expands measurement range while maintaining accuracy, says the company.

The Vantage platforms offer large-volume 3D measurement up to 80 m, streamlining processes and reducing inspection cycle times.

For further information
www.faro.com

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division is launching a new software plug-in that will allow full operation of Hexagon structured light scanning systems from within the third-party inspection software platform PolyWorks, developed by InnovMetric Software. This move represents the first implementation of a new SDK released by Hexagon that allows a third-party software environment to take full hardware control of any of the company’s structured light scanners.

The SLS-PW plug-in, and any subsequently developed plug-ins, will let users streamline their scanning and inspection workflow into a single software environment, with clear productivity benefits. Notably, the increased efficiency of a single platform workflow will reduce inspection times by eliminating the need to export and import measurement data between separate programs, as well as by minimising training needs.

Dirk Rieke-Zapp, commercial product manager – structured light scanners, says: “The need to use proprietary stand-alone software solutions to operate structured light scanning systems is an issue faced by users across the industry, whether they are using scanners from Hexagon or other manufacturers. With the development of this new SDK for our range of structured light scanners, we’re making it possible for users to deeply integrate this type of high-detail scanning within their existing metrology workflows by completely removing the need to insert proprietary software at the measurement step of the inspection process.”

When added to the existing versatility of the PolyWorks platform, the SLS-PW plug-in delivers a flexible solution for companies that run a range of metrology hardware and wish to simplify their workflows.

For further information
www.hexagonmi.com