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3-D optical measurement system turns robot into metrology device

Hexagon Metrology Inc. will introduce the new Cognitens WLS400A for automated measurement applications at IMTS 2012. The 3-D optical measurement system can transform a robot into a metrology device.

Suitable for the motor vehicle and aerospace industries, the white light-based system is used to measure large components, analyze early root causes of potential assembly issues, and to help lower scrap costs during assembly ramp-up, the company reports. The manual version of the system, the Cognitens WLS400M, also can be used for rapid prototype part development and to certify holding fixtures and assembly tools.

The automatic version uses digital stereo vision technology to generate 3-D data in vibration-prone shop floor environments. With an acquisition rate of less than 10 ms, the system provides results unaffected by vibration in frequencies up to hundreds of hertz. The device's performance also is not impaired by variable lighting or temperature changes.