RoboScanner

NVision introduces the RoboScanner, a lightweight, turn-key laser scanning system that offers fully automated scanning with 3D analysis. "The RoboScanner provides a significantly faster way to accurately measure components in a production environment," said Steve Kersen, president of NVision.

Weighing only 50 pounds and being touch-sensitive, the RoboScanner avoids the need for the safety cage required by larger, immobile, high-force robots. In addition, the scanner provides instant inspection analysis and key performance advantages in speed, accuracy, and ease of use.

The RoboScanner, being fully automatic, also reduces manpower requirements. "By eliminating the expense of a full-time technician's salary along with health care and other expenses, this scanner can be a significant cost-saver," said Kersen. "Further, the scanner can work far faster than a human being without requiring any breaks."

The RoboScanner uses a high resolution digital blue-light scanning system and can capture over 500,000 points in less than 0.2 seconds. Multiple scans are automatically registered seamlessly and the resulting file compared to a nominal CAD model to receive an instant GO/NO-GO decision.

Robotic scanners are not by themselves new but generally require a tremendous amount of programming. The RoboScanner was designed with integrated software for easy programming. The RoboScan software can capture scan positions manually or with a simple click on the computer screen with the mouse. Then RoboScanner moves automatically to the next scan position. RoboScan software detects path interference in real time to avoid collisions. All travel paths are logged and can be cut and pasted into script files just like using a word processor.

The RoboScanner utilizes 6 axes of along with an optional turntable for 7 full axes of movement. All of these axes can be controlled to ensure smooth and fast movement around all of the points to be measured even on difficult to measure horizontal geometry.

The RoboScanner offers outstanding accuracy, as high as +/- .002" or +/- 0.050mm. The resolution can be as fine as .0005", or .012mm.

The RoboScanner will follow a preset path for the measurement of similar parts without the need for expensive fixturing. Consistent with a production environment, RoboScanner will provide a complete inspection report at the end of its measuring routine without delay, enabling instant feedback for process control. Alternatively, data can also be processed offline.

"Customers will see large productivity improvement compared with other scanning technologies. Anyone needing to improve inspection cycle time needs to look at what RoboScanner has to offer before they buy another operator-dependent scanner," said Kersen.