Manufacturers wishing to progress from manual metrology to using a CNC CMM have a new option to consider: the new ALTO 6.5.5 from LK Metrology. Appealing to the entry-point of the CMM market, the machine has guideways made from aluminium, lowering the capital cost compared with using ceramic, as is the case with most LK CMMs. Several design features deliver a surprisingly compact measuring machine, with the high accuracy and rapid throughput normally associated with more expensive systems, reports the company.
The CMM is of half-gantry design, which improves accuracy by shortening on one side the leg supporting the bridge. Additionally, the fixed aperture created beneath the short leg facilitates the easier loading and unloading of components from that side of the machine.
Micro-machining of the aluminium elements by fly-cutting an unclamped condition eliminates distortion that might occur on releasing conventional fixtures after milling. All of the aluminium parts undergo hard anodising before assembly of the CMM, creating a 50 µm thick layer that imparts extreme durability and prevents corrosion.
Designed for touch-trigger probing only, the CMM is capable of capturing precise measurements very rapidly, as it is able to deploy a motorised PH20 five-axis probe head from Renishaw for a three-fold increase in inspection speed. Continuous angular rotation and infinite positioning (similar to the company’s top of the range REVO2 probing system) avoids having to move the machine’s X, Y, and Z axes at high speed, minimising dynamic errors. For some measurements in a cycle, it is not necessary to move the linear axes at all. The results are better accuracy and repeatability.
Furthermore, five-axis motion allows the measurement of larger parts on the CMM by minimising the space required around the component for head rotation. Unsurprisingly the PH20 is the most expensive probe head on offer. So, mindful that price is likely to constrain many potential ALTO purchasers, LK alternatively offers lower-cost motorised and manual head options.
For further information www.lkmetrology.com
