On-machine measurement device provides CAD-to-part analysis

Faro Technologies Inc. has introduced the PowerGAGE, a new on-machine measurement device that adds CAD-to-part analysis capability to the company's Faro Gage product line.

According to the company, this is the only portable measurement device that enables manufacturers to verify that a part meets the CAD file's specs to within 0.0002 in., on the machine that's producing the part.

The gauge, which resembles a short, metallic arm, can be mounted directly to the machine making the part for manufacturing inspection. As the user traces the arm's tip over the part's entire surface, the system's laptop computer verifies all of the part's 3-D measurements against the original CAD file – the digital "blueprint" – to see if it was made correctly and, if not, where it needs to be corrected.

The gauge runs on a version of Delcam's PowerInspect software. Using that software's programmer and play-only modules, users of the gauge can create inspection programs and routines offline for anyone in the facility to run; import all major industry CAD formats; perform surface inspection against master CAD files; receive on-screen instructions, including images and videos; access a suite of geometric inspection tools; automatically optimize the viewing angle of the part during measurement; and save all inspection data and run customized reports.