Martin Schuster, president of Laser Design Inc.
"System and laser calibration accessories make automated calibration confirmation easy and fast to ensure the laser probe itself is operating within tolerance," says C. To further ensure quality, most laser measurement devices have accessories performing calibration checks, alignment checks or part referencing of scan data. According to Cris Holmes, machine vision and sensor product manager at Axis Systems (Auburn Hills, MI), what makes a laser high end is primarily how the data is handled because inexpensive controllers can be configured to look for a set point match for a specific measurement. There are inexpensive, low-end and more complex high-end laser measurement devices. The closer the laser is to the object, the higher percentage of light will be returned.Ī laser measurement system enables measurements via walk-around scanning without mechanical constraints. The laser sensor receiver can use the percentage of laser light reflected off the test object surface to determine the distance from the laser.
Single-point lasers project the laser beam onto a single point on the target and then return data. Single-point lasers with spot beams as small as 50 microns can be used on very small objects or features to confirm their presence. Other types of laser-beam configurations allow for the checking of surface flatness, porosity, diameters, gaps, positioning, velocity, eccentricity, surface inclination, thickness and height. According to Glenn Valliant, managing partner of Optical Dimensions (Lake Forest, CA), at the low end, there are simple laser sighting and surveying measurements that take advantage of the ‘straightness' of light. Laser systems range from single-axis measurers to large 3-D point cloud devices. Selecting the correct laser system best ensures quality. Even the smallest force applied by touching the specimen will affect the reading, or the target is too sensitive and does not allow any contact without compromising the quality."Ī laser surface measurement head in a fixture measures valve caps. Because tolerances are getting tighter, accurate measurement down to the microns is impossible with conventional contact technology. "Many contact devices can and will break, and must be replaced which increases downtime.
"This will increase the durability and longevity of any manufacturing cell," says Stephen Sochowski, director of sales and marketing at Micro-Epsilon (Rolling Meadows, IL).
Because a laser does not touch the part it is measuring, the laser is not compromised when measuring soft materials, which might move or wear when touched.Ĭompared to conventional contact measurement, laser measurement has fewer moving parts required to manipulate the part or the contact device. Fast data acquisition is possible without the potential distortion that often occurs with conventional contact measurement. Laser measurement ensures quality in manufacturing-related activities by creating absolute references for measurements, which do not change over distances the way mechanical or relative references do.
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