MACH 2014 - Measurement Solutions unveils 'accurate' measurement robot - Metrolog X4 i-Robot

The system avoids the weaknesses of robots for precision measurement – lack of accurate positioning - by using laser tracking to define the robot's position rather than its encoders. Traditional measurement for manufacturing inspection normally involves a fixed co-ordinate measuring machine - the accuracy of the measurement is embedded within the machine itself. Efforts to 'industrialise' inspection have failed, as robots cannot position themselves to the accuracy required for measurement, says Measurement Solutions. The X4 i-Robot employs Metrolog X4 3D inspection software, as do CMMs, laser trackers etc, with the software telling the robot to move to a position in space so that a measurement can be taken. However, a measuring head such as a laser scanner is mounted in the robot, which in turn is controlled to move to a position in space. The measuring head is tracked independently, using a tracking device such that the robot moves the measuring head close to the required measuring position, but with the actual position of the head tracked independently of the robot. A typical X4 i-Robot combination would be based around the MetraSCAN-R 3D portable optical CMM from Creaform. The MetraSCAN-R is a purpose-designed laser scanning head that is mounted on a multi-axis robot, and is tracked by a pair of high-definition cameras known as the C-Track. Measurement Solutions will be showing this new concept at the MACH exhibition for the first time. A measuring cell comprising a Kuka robot with a MetraSCAN-R scanning head will be shown taking live measurements directly through Metrolog X4 i-Robot software. The MetraSCAN-R incorporates Creaform's claimed unique TRUaccuracy principle, which includes dynamic positioning, a system that sees the object being measured continually tracked during measurement, such that the reference coordinate system is 'attached' to the part. In this way, the effects of any movement, such as vibrations within the cell, are completely eliminated, and accuracy is guaranteed at all times.