FARO TrackArm – new and improved technology for the most versatile portable 3D measurement system
The FARO TrackArm is the most versatile portable 3D measurement system available. It brings together the long range and high accuracy capabilities of FARO’s Laser Tracker with the flexibility and consistency of the FaroArm.
The seamless combination of these metrology devices expands the FaroArm’s working volume, allowing it to be quickly repositioned anywhere within the Laser Tracker’s measurement range; while remaining in the same coordinate system and the same software interface. This solution is ideally suited for the automotive, aerospace and heavy machinery industries as well as for suppliers of large parts to industries such as tunnel & mining and hydro & wind power.
The FARO TrackArm unites the FARO Laser Tracker Vantage, which has a range of up to 80m (262.5 ft), with the entire FaroArm product family – Edge, Prime or Fusion – into a long-reach, six-degree-of-freedom probe. New innovative adapters enable the integration of the Tracker and the Arm. This improved solution also eliminates the need for a synchronization cable between the units and the system can be operated wirelessly with the FaroArm’s built-in capability. CAM2 Measure 10 software provides a simple user interface to quickly switch back and forth between the two systems. Attach FARO’s Laser Line Probe to the Arm to enable extended scanning and non-contact inspection ability for reverse engineering, CAD-to-part analysis, and inspection purposes.
Visitors to the CONTROL trade fair (from 14 to 17 May, 2013, Stuttgart Trade Fair) can find out all about the new FARO TrackArm at the FARO Stand 3404 in Hall 3.
FARO Chopper LIVE @ CONTROL
CONTROL, the major European exhibition dedicated to metrology, opened its doors this morning in Stuttgart, Germany. Every day, visitors will have the opportunity to discover the latest trends in quality control and attend events organized by the exhibitors.
See the photos of FARO’s chopper designed by Paul Jr. Designs, of the televisionshow American Chopper on our Facebook Page. Visitors at the FARO stand have the opportunity to be photographed on the powerful machine that was created exclusively for FARO’s 30th anniversary.
As with most custom choppers created by Paul Jr. Designs, the FaroArm was used to manufacture the birthday bike. It is important for PJD to be able to create unique pieces with speed and efficiency. Some elements, including the fuel tank, the seat pan and the cover of the primary belt give a glimpse of the real talent that goes into the design of each piece. All these elements have complex shapes and contours difficult to understand or replicate by hand.
The FaroArm scans the exact shape and location of the parts. The design and creation of cardboard templates are thus basically useless. The data collected by the arm can immediately be imported to a CNC machine or waterjet cutting tool to produce parts with high precision in perfect shape from the very start. The FaroArm therefore reduces waste, saves time and increases overall efficiency.
For more photos of the FARO Chopper visit our Facebook Page or come and visit us at Control and get your photo taken!
Stuttgart Trade Fair, 14-17 May 2013
Booth 3404 in Hall 3
Pushing the next generation of digitizing heritage
Relicarte have been working with museums in creating digital output for a varied range of outcomes, since 2006. Since then they have seen that the interest in digital content as a resource across the heritage market has grown exponentially.
Due to the growing business of Relicarte they were looking for a new scanner which would allow to digitize larger subjects with increased accuracy and with less processing time and the search began. Relicarte was introduced to the FARO product range and purchased a Laser ScanArm Quantum with Geomagics package.
Earlier this year Relicarte also decided to buy a FARO Laser Scanner Focus3D as they move towards digitizing heritage sites as part of developing new services for the Museum and heritage industry.
Relicarte has created ‘My-museum’, which delivers a fully interactive platform that provides online visitors with immersive access to cultural media, from fully rendered 3 dimensional arte-facts to film, text, music and beyond.‘My-museum’ is further designed as public engagement tool through which users can communicate with the Museum and their fellow visitors, generating a vibrant cultural conversation.
FARO will be exhibiting at Railtex 2013, April 30th – 2nd May in London
FARO UK invites all interested parties to Railtex, the all encompassing showcase for technological innovation across all sectors of the rail supply market.
FARO will be demonstrating several advanced metrology products, including the FARO Edge that boasts the lightest and smallest laser line probe and touch-screen computer for basic measurements at stand number G03. Also on display will be the FARO Gage with barcode scanner and the company’s innovative new Laser Tracker Vantage that is ideal for accurate, large volume measurements.
Date: 30th April – 2nd May 2013
Location: Earls Court 2 Exhibition Centre
Warwick Road
London SW5 9TA
Featured White Paper: an Introduction to 3D measurement technology
Whether it’s small machined parts requiring precision diameters, alignment of large equipment or setting up machine tools, or even documenting entire buildings and environments, three-dimensional measurement data can help companies make more informed decisions and produce better quality products.
Read this white paper to learn more about the latest 3D measurement tools, how they work, and their common applications.
For access to other white papers on 3D measurement topics, follow this link.
High-precision Augmented Reality – metaio Engineer complements FARO measuring arms
Augmented Reality means to enrich and enhance the user’s view of the real world with additional digital information, e.g. a virtual 3D-model that originates from CAD.
This content is made visible on a monitor, a tablet PC, within the user’s field of view using a head-mounted display or projected onto the respective area. Virtual and actual realities merge in the most natural manner that is possible.
metaio Engineer is software that brings Augmented Reality to the industrial field. And it is a perfect complement to an existing measuring arm. The best of both worlds is combined: a quick and direct visualization with the precision of a measuring arm.
With the new release of metaio Engineer 5.0, an interface to support FARO measuring arms is already built-in. All necessary features are integrated by default, from calibration to functions that support your daily tasks.
Previously, in case of quality control every relevant point had to be measured to discover deviations between the CAD model and the related assembly part. metaio Engineer and Augmented Reality accelerate this process by identifying errors and selectively measuring deviations.
These are the basic steps to set up an Augmented Reality system based on e.g the FARO Edge:
1. Mount an industry camera with available adapters onto the grip of the measuring arm
2. Calibrate camera and spatial relation between camera and measuring arm
3. Determine position of the arm in relation to the subject of analysis
4. Visualize a CAD model onto the existing model, part or product
5. Compare planned vs. actual state, measurements and more features
ARGON developed best practice for measuring corrosion on gas pipelines
The use of 3D scanning for quantification of external corrosion on pipelines provides an opportunity to move away from manual, time-consuming and operator-dependent techniques.
Challenges of the past, such as the complexity of the scan and the uncertainty about the reliability of scan data have now been overcome.
Recent developments in this field have led to improvements in both hardware and software:
1. The scanning technology is more compact and easier to use
2. Scanning can take place in open air – there is no influence of ambient light
3. Partly by ARGON‘s own development of analysis software, the total process of uncertainty is known for each type of pipeline and each form of corrosion.
ARGON Measurement Services converts 3D scanning since 2005. They did more than 400 corrosion scans, and they offer this service for several years in Western Europe. “The benefits speak for themselves”:
• Faster and safer: 3D scanning is the fastest way to a full surface mapping and thanks to the high-resolution scan, there is a lower risk that certain corrosion-points are skipped.
• More precisely: the overall process accuracy is between 0.05 and 0.3 mm, depending on the size and the pattern of corrosion. This is better than what can be achieved with manual measurement methods, especially with complex patterns of corrosion.
• Economic: with this method fewer expensive replacements of pipelines have been needed. In addition, during the inspection, no pressure reduction is needed, meaning the gas lines can continue to operate normally.
The quality and reliability of the FARO ScanArm has from the beginning contributed to the success of this service ARGON. Below are some practical images.
Caterham F1 Team uses FARO ScanArm for wind tunnel testing
The FARO Edge ArmScan will help Caterham F1 Team to optimise their in-house quality control.
The FARO arms will be utilised in two contexts. One will be to support wind tunnel tests by checking both the dimensions and the orientation of model parts being tested within the tunnel.
The other, perhaps more fundamental, will be to allow the team to bring in-house both the manufacturing and associated quality control of the ‘patterns’. These are machined from an epoxy material that are used as templates for making moulds from which carbon fibre components for the team’s cars are produced, as well as checking the dimensional accuracy of the moulds themselves.
FARO at Southern Manufacturing Show, 13 – 14 February 2013
FARO will participate at the Southern Manufacturing Show in Farnborough, which will take place from 13-14 February 2013.
At this exhibition – the largest regional manufacturing technology in the UK – you have the chance to see the latest 3D measurement equipment such as FARO’s new Laser Tracker Vantage.
Come and visit us at E70. We are looking forward to welcome you!
The FARO UK Team
“Pushing the technology boundaries” – The latest case study of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes now available!
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes had already been a FARO customer for nearly 10 years before the partnership began in May 2010. FARO is now the McLaren Group’s Official Supplier of measuring systems, which includes the FARO Edge Arm, the FARO Gage and the Laser Line Probe for non-contact measurement, and software such as CAM2 Measure 10, now including point cloud capability.
“Here at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, we’re always pushing the boundaries. We’re justifiably proud of the speed and efficiency of our existing manufacturing and assembly procedures, but FARO’s contribution will not only allow us to increase the speed of those processes, but also improve fidelity and accuracy.” McLaren Racing Head of Quality, Alex Smith.
Download the case study
