WLS aFLASH White Light Measurement System

Hexagon Metrology has released the WLS qFLASH, a compact white light solution (WLS) that utilizes state-of-the-art blue light technology, for industrial measurement applications. The new Hexagon Metrology WLS qFLASH is a non-contact, stereo vision system used to quickly capture 3D measurements on the shop floor. The portable solution creates reports and digitizes acquired data on the spot for analysis or direct CAD comparison. Handheld or used on a mobile pedestal, the overall optical head design is smaller, lighter, and easier-to-handle in limited or confined industrial spaces. The new WLS qFLASH is ideal for measuring aerospace components, automotive plastic parts or interiors, closures, aluminum and metal castings, as well as medium sheet metal parts, molds and dies.

The WLS qFLASH is wrapped in a rock-solid carbon fiber optical housing, and employs advanced blue LED high power illumination for reliable results. The system's rapid image acquisition provides high throughput by utilizing patented stereo vision technology and 2D image processing to measure surfaces, closed features and edge lines. With low sensitivity to machinery vibration, industrial light or temperature changes, qFLASH enables manufacturers of small to medium size parts to measure surfaces and features in shop-floor environments. Hexagon Metrology's patented stereo-vision technology allows the qFLASH to easily operate in production environments including stamping facilities and aircraft flight lines. The product is paired with Hexagon Metrology's proprietary CoreView measurement software suite.

"The WLS qFLASH comes with state-of-the-art blue light technology based on the WLS400 product family. Its price point, small footprint, and light weight design make it a very attractive product," said Amir Grinboim, Product Manager White Light & Automation for Hexagon Metrology Inc. "Together with the new CoreView 7.0 software, we are enhancing our white light solution offering to better support our customer base."

The qFLASH stereo-vision technology enables fast image acquisition at an average of 10 milliseconds for constant measurement workflow. Shiny objects and surfaces can be measured without treatment. A random pattern is projected on a part, captured by the cameras, and analyzed at subpixel level, finding the differences in gray levels. Using the three cameras for triangulation, a 3D point cloud is reconstructed. Combined with 2D image analysis and propriety algorithms, the WLS qFLASH can extract closed features and edge points/lines without any post processing, such as STL generation, in a robust and repeatable process. This gives the qFLASH the unique ability to output inspection studies based on dense point cloud and 2D image analysis.

The product also includes a reverse engineering image acquisition mode which utilizes the sensor for both fast dimensional measurement and for reverse engineering. Among the new capabilities of CoreView 7.0 software is STL on-the-fly functionality to quickly and seamlessly generate high-quality data in the STL format for reverse engineering applications.This STL on-the-fly functionality is generated in the background so it will not slow down qFLASH's data acquisition, enabling the qFLASH to maintain the WLS industry leading time from measurement to actionable data.