Fast Laser Probe

Manufacturing Engineering, Sep 2005

The SLP-330 scanning laser probe can reduce the time required to scan complex parts by 33-50% when used on an articulated arm, according to the manufacturer, Laser Design (Minneapolis). Designed for use with the CimCore Infinite, 3000i, and Stinger II portable CMM articulating arms made by Romer CimCore (Wixom, MI), the probe can scan parts with dimensions as long as 12' (3.7 m) without moving the base of the arm, or of any size if the arm moves.

Laser scanning systems work by projecting a line of laser light onto surfaces, while integrated cameras continuously triangulate the changing distance and profile of the laser line as it sweeps along, enabling the object to be accurately digitized. Laser scanners can quickly measure large parts while generating more data points than mechanical touch probes without templates or fixtures. Dual detectors on the SLP-330 view the probe's laser line from two different angles, reducing the number of scanning passes required to capture steep sidewalls and deep geometries.

The probe captures as many as 50,000 points/sec and weighs less than a pound (454 g). It interfaces with the manufacturer's Surveyor 3D scanning systems and the PHlO indexing system from Renishaw Inc. (Huffman Estates, IL). Scanning packages are also offered with Raindrop Geomagic (Durham, NC) Studio software that develops CAD models directly from 3-D scan data, or can provide inspection reports from its Qualify Inspection software. Geomagic can also fill holes in scan data in areas that are difficult to access. Circle 301