New products from CyberOptics, FARO, Hexagon and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
CyberOptics 3D Scanning Inspection System
CyberOptics Corporation, a developer and manufacturer of 3D sensing technology solutions, has announced that it will demonstrate the CyberGage360, an automated 3D scanning inspection system, at Southern Manufacturing 2017, March 21 â 23 in Farnborough, UK.
With one button, a precise 360-degree 3D scan of complex parts along with a full 3D inspection report can be generated in less than three minutes. According to CyberOptics, little training is required for set-up, programming and operation.
Incorporating the companyâs proprietary 3D Multi-Reflection Suppression (MRS) technology, the automated CyberGage360 brings greater accuracy and scanning speeds to the industrial parts inspection and reverse engineering markets through a combination of speed, accuracy and simplicity.
âThe CyberGage360 utilizes our proprietary MRS sensor technology that is now even more precise with a 7 micron accuracy and 5 micron repeatability â a 3.5X advancement from the first generation,â said Subodh Kulkarni, president and CEO, CyberOptics.
The CyberGage360 facilitates quality assurance by enabling in-process quality assurance and inspection of incoming/outgoing parts, whether on the manufacturing floor, in the metrology lab or engineering environment.
The scanning and inspection system has a range of potential applications for aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, medical and anywhere high accuracy and high speed throughput are vital.
CyberOptics asserts that this system can effectively replace traditional gauges, video and tactile coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and can be used as an absolute or comparative measuring solution on the production floor or in the quality lab.
For more information, visit the CyberOptics website.
FARO Laser Tracker Product Line
FARO recently announced the release of its next generation of laser trackers. According to the company, the Vantage product family sets new price and performance standards for addressing challenges in large-scale metrology including, but not limited to, assembly alignment, part and assembly inspection, machine installation and alignment and reverse engineering.
The FARO Vantage product family consists of two high performance models, the VantageEÂ with an operating range of 25 meters (82 feet)Â and the VantageSÂ with an operating range of 80 meters (262.5 feet).
Both models offer portability thanks to an integrated master control unit (MCU), hot swappable batteries that eliminate the need for AC power and cabling and industrial-grade Wi-Fi. This set of features, along with a single carrying case, is intended to enable easy transport between job sites and/or locations within the factory by a single user.
The new FARO Vantage Laser Tracker platform is the first that utilizes FARO RemoteControls (patent pending) for control of the system using a mobile phone or tablet device. The mobile device not only controls the movements of the laser tracker but also delivers enhanced functionality, such as live video feed from targeting cameras so that a single operator can now control the laser tracker from anywhere in the measurement area.
Also included are workflow management features such as remote accuracy checks and programmable remote warm-up so the user can schedule the device to turn on in advance and make it ready for immediate operation when the operator arrives.
FARO RemoteControls also includes functionality where the laser beam can be automatically re-established with a simple set of gestures, indoors or outdoors. This can improve efficiency and productivity by eliminating the challenge of a broken laser beam and the need to manually reacquire the target.
Both FARO VantageSÂ and FARO VantageEÂ fully support FAROâs patented Super 6DoF (Degrees of Freedom) TrackArm solution, which enables a Vantage Tracker and a FARO ScanArm, or multiple ScanArms, to work together to create an integrated 3D measurement solution across a single coordinate system. Super 6DoF is designed to eliminate line-of sight challenges and expand measurement range while maintaining accuracy with two instruments-in-one operation.
âThe new FARO Vantage Laser Tracker product line is proven effective for the most environmentally challenging applications as it is tested to rigorous International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards for shock and vibration, tested for extreme thermal conditions and is IP52 rated for dust and water resistance,â stated Simon Raab, FAROâs President and CEO.
For more information, visit the FARO website.
Hexagon Laser Tracker System
Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence has launched the latest addition to its range of laser tracker systems. The Leica Absolute Tracker AT403 has been designed to offer excellent portable metrology performance, and presents significant improvements over its predecessors in terms of speed and ease of measurement.
With full IP54 certification, an operating temperature range of -15°C to 45°C and the introduction of the RapidSight aim alignment tool, the Leica Absolute Tracker AT403 is designed to provide CMM capabilities in a wide range of challenging measurement environments.
Portable usage is further enabled by WiFi connectivity, with the goal of providing true access point functionality. The systemâs updated distance meter technology is able to make improved use of the Leica B-Probe in terms of measurement speed and usability. It also delivers measurement process speed improvements for reflector measurements and supports the newly introduced continuous measurement functionality, which allows for the measurement of moving points for the first time within this level of the Leica Absolute Tracker range.Â
âWith this new release weâve looked to build on the strengths of our existing laser tracker platform and deliver a new tool that really reflects the way we see our customers using our products,â said Matthias Saure, product manager at Hexagon. âThat meant portability, robustness and usability were important concepts for us in this design â we want to give users the capability to quickly and easily get the measurements they need, wherever they need to be done.â
The Leica Absolute Tracker AT403 retains key features from its predecessors, such as the PowerLock function, full battery operation and a measurement volume of 320 meters (1050 feet).
For more information, visit the Hexagon website.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Microscope
Laboratory technicians faced with identifying particulate or unknown microscopic materials, including contaminants and defects in food, plastics and other products, can now use a new infrared microscope designed for faster, more reliable results with minimal user training.
The Thermo Scientific Nicolet iN5 FTIR microscope, which makes its debut at Pittcon 2017 at McCormick Place, Chicago, is designed as a simple, cost-effective solution for particulate identification in the lab.
The iN5 FTIR microscope features an optical setup that allows users to simultaneously examine a sample and collect chemical information. A large field of view is intended to make it easier to locate and target contaminants, and it has the spatial resolution required for accurate chemical analysis.
The microscope uses Thermo Scientific OMNIC software, with its set of libraries, so users can match samples in real time and make more confident decisions.
âQuality assurance and quality control technicians are under constant pressure to quickly identify foreign objects that could lead to costly production-line shutdowns,â said Phillip van de Werken, vice president and general manager, molecular spectroscopy, Thermo Fisher. âThe Nicolet iN5 FTIR microscope is designed to make it easier for technicians to see an object, scan it and identify the problem, even if they are not expert in the underlying technology.â
Applications for which Thermo Fisher designed the Thermo Scientific Nicolet iN5 FTIR microscope include:
- Food safety, for the detection of contaminants in food products to ensure safety for human consumption;
- Manufacturing, for the identification and analysis of defects in plastics, polymers, paints and other industrial uses; and
- Academia, where laboratories require low-cost options for innovative technology that prepare students for complex challenges once they enter the workforce.
The Thermo Scientific Nicolet iN5 FTIR microscope builds upon the history of the Thermo Scientific FTIR microscope line, designed to offer faster, more reliable chemical identification to lab technicians. It is designed for use with the Thermo Scientific line of infrared spectrometers.
For more information, visit the Thermo Fisher Scientific website.
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