Leica T-Mac offers non-contact solution for tracking robot position

The Leica T-Mac, Tracker-Machine Control sensor, answers the needs of a growing number of customers who have either modified the existing Leica T-Probe for automated measurement applications or expressed an interest in doing so. The Leica T-Mac is intended for mounting on robots or machines, the positions of which need to be monitored in 6DoF (six degrees of freedom) space without the need for a contact tip. It features a special housing for easy installation, with additional reflector nests for calibration and easy orientation. "Over the past few years, we've witnessed the unrelenting increase in the number of customers who need a 6DoF solution for automated tracking of the position of robots or machines," says Dr Raimund Loser, Leica T-Mac's chief developer. "Some of our customers who have adapted the existing Leica T-Probe for automated applications include Boeing, Hawker de Havilland in Australia, the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Rolls Royce and Shanghai University. "With the Leica T-Mac, we are introducing an off-the-shelf solution that can be custom-tailored to the needs of a specific application. For example, when needed, an interface for precise tool exchange units like those from Sandvik can be included."