HP-O Noncontact Scanning Probe

Hexagon Metrology announced the release of the new HP-O non-contact scanning probe for high accuracy measurement and inspection applications. The non-contact probe is an attractive alternative to conventional tactile analog measurement and scanning probes, according to the company. The device exerts no physical impact on a part, delivering force-free measurement of blisks, blades, gear profiles and flank lines, and other potentially deformable parts, without a loss of accuracy. The HP-O probe's 3mm diameter and measurement range of up to 20mm provide access to points that are not accessible to tactile probes. Optical measurements can be captured in single point or scanning mode.

The HP-O probe delivers superior repeatability of under 0.3µm when used with the Leitz PMM-C coordinate measuring machine from Hexagon Metrology. Utilized for ultra-high accuracy inspections, HP-O's scanning technology can be used to inspect metallic or sensitive part surfaces with mirror-like or polished finishes, eliminating the need to spray a part's surface. With an acceptance angle of +/-30 degrees, the probe can measure difficult-to-access features at a scanning speed of 1,000 points per second for rapid throughput.

"The unique HP-O probe has broken new ground in the marketplace. Historically, tactile analog probing has been the most accurate means of measuring parts, but there are limitations when inspecting sensitive or deformable surfaces. The accuracy and reliability of the new optical measurement solution are comparable to tactile scanning probes without their drawbacks," said Ingo Lindner, product line manager at Hexagon Metrology. "The HP-O probe is compatible with existing part programs and has flexible configurations to facilitate inspections of even the most complex parts."

The HP-O's scanning technology is not affected by ambient light, and is based on frequency-modulated, interferometric optical distance measurement. The probe's dense data acquisition does not suffer from degradation at higher speeds. The HP-O's high throughput capability renders it ideal for scanning large parts and parts that are rotationally symmetric. It is multisensor compatible in a single part program using a standard toolchanger.