Flexxbotics, which delivers work-cell digitalisation for robot-driven manufacturing, presented robot connectivity compatible with the entire range of Hexagon inspection products at Hexagon’s Sixth Sense Summit in London last month.

The company’s patent-pending FlexxCORE technology enables the robots to connect and communicate securely with Hexagon machines to provide closed-loop feedback and real-time updates to the inspection equipment for autonomous process control. With Flexxbotics, manufacturers can enable advanced robotic machine tending with CNC machinery and Hexagon inspection technology to achieve Six Sigma quality for increased yields with improved margins. Flexxbotics compatibility includes Hexagon’s PC-DMIS CMM for bridge and gantry CMMs, NC measuring software, the full Q-DAS product line for SPC and intelligent machine control.

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division selected the company from hundreds of applicants across 27 countries to join the elite Sixth Sense programme. The initiative is designed to nurture high-growth companies within the manufacturing industry by supporting them with Hexagon’s extensive resources.

Flexxbotics says that its robotic work-cell digitalisation is the backbone of the smart factory, delivering robot-driven manufacturing at scale with autonomous process control for advanced machining operations. Its SaaS/hybrid architecture runs both online and offline so that production continues with or without internet access. Flexxbotics also works with existing systems such as CADCAM, DNC, SCADA/HMI, IIoT, MES, ERP, PLM and others for enterprise-wide synchronisation.

“We believe that inspection equipment in the smart factory effectively becomes the ‘eyes and ears’ of robots running lights-out production,” says Tyler Bouchard, co-founder and CEO of Flexxbotics. “By connecting Hexagon’s inspection capabilities to robots with Flexxbotics, companies are able to achieve continuous operations through robot-driven manufacturing and autonomous process control.”

For further information www.flexxbotics.com

Renishaw now offers an extended range of Agility CMMs featuring the company’s Revo five-axis multi-sensor system.

Nathan Fielder, Renishaw’s product manager for Agility, says: “We took Revo and asked ourselves: how can we turn this into an even better solution to meet the challenging demands of high-end manufacturers? The result is the Agility range – CMMs that deliver the advantages of Revo where they matter most: close to the point of manufacture. Our Agility series now includes CMMs for the measurement lab, offering high throughput platforms capable of using any one of seven dedicated Revo sensors.”

The CMMs enable manufacturers to carry out multiple measurement processes and report results on a single device. The full range of Revo sensors is available to Agility CMM users, including tactile touch-trigger and scanning, surface roughness, temperature, ultrasonic thickness measurement and non-contact probes.

The machine’s structure combines granite and anodised aluminium to provide strength, stability and accurate metrology throughout the measuring volume. Critical elements such as bearing design and placement, the innovative cable track arrangement and frictionless linear motors, ensure a stable and repeatable platform when Revo is scanning at high speed. Minimal contact parts prevent friction and thermal instability, while also reducing wear and maintenance requirements. In addition, the elevated and protected Y-axis drive system minimises the moving structural mass and prevents contamination.

Agility L machines, designed for the metrology lab, are specified for a temperature range of 18-22°C to provide high-performance, multi-sensor five-axis measurement in cleanrooms. The single-sided raised Y-axis design with an outrigger leg expands accessibility for manual part loading when automation is not required. Agility L frames are available with working volumes ranging from 500 x 500 x 500 mm up to 1600 x 3500 x 1200 mm.

For further information www.renishaw.com/agility