海克斯康 Blaze 600A使用三个高分辨率相机捕获数字图像，以生成测量部件的3D模型。其增强的投影技术意味着它可用于扫描闪亮，黑色和复合材料，无需表面处理和与机器人安装的兼容性意味着它不再需要由操作员手动引导，从而加快扫描过程。
AMRC集成制造集团的大容量计量技术主管Thomas Hodgson一直在审查先进的技术并测试其作为AMRC董事会资助项目的一部分的能力。
Blaze 600A基于海克斯康经过验证的白光扫描仪技术，将高分辨率数字成像技术与蓝光LED照明相结合，可快速提供高精度自由曲面和特征数据。大型测量区域可有效捕获高密度点云数据，而增强型投影技术几乎可以扫描任何材料或表面类型 - 包括闪亮，涂漆和反射表面，黑色部件和复合材料 - 无需表面处理。
“它提供了对整体零件和总装配性能的更好理解，”托马斯说。
托马斯一直在将工具包放在工厂2050工厂设立的特殊计量单元中，该工厂是IMG的合作研发中心。
“传统上，如果你需要扫描一些东西，它是复合材料或闪亮的金属部分，那么过程就是使用白色喷雾，使表面变钝并允许它被扫描。问题是你必须清洁零件，你必须购买喷雾。它可能非常昂贵。有了这个系统，从采购的角度来看，不仅节省了成本，而且节省了时间，因为你不需要清理东西，这是一个非常大的好处。“
全自动系统的一个显著优势是它可以更快的速度运行 - 从而提高了产量并提高了车间生产率。
“手动使用时系统的工作方式是操作员必须在被扫描的部件上放置定位目标，这些是3D扫描仪用来定位自身并识别部件及其位置的小白色贴纸。这一切都需要时间，“托马斯说。
“当您自动化系统时，您可以依靠机器人提供可重复性，因此您可以使用定位目标进行一次性扫描，并且对于每次后续扫描，您不需要它们。这比其他仍需要这些定位目标的系统更具优势。“
托马斯表示，更快的检验率不仅可以为汽车制造商带来巨大的好处，而且也可以为航空航天业带来巨大的好处，这也越来越有利于在飞机生产中使用复合材料。
海克斯康制造智能业务开发工程师Tim Gears表示，2050工厂的新型Hexagon Blaze 600A电池是之前与IMG合作开展的项目的结果，将能够根据客户的具体要求进行重新配置。
蒂姆说：
“作为高价值制造弹射器的一员，AMRC打开了与任何大小企业合作的大门。他们帮助我们以低成本和低风险证明了自动化或机器人技术，或新的制造工艺。“
“我们需要更智能，更灵活的工作单元解决方案，使您能够根据需要添加测量站，通过混合和匹配不同组件甚至传感器来优化解决方案。”
IMG现在正在寻找更多项目来测试该技术以用于进一步的应用。它正在寻求在系统上探索统计过程控制（SPC），其中测量数据用于了解过程中发生的事情并标记任何潜在问题并在出现问题之前进行干预。
A 3D optical scanner upgraded for the automated inspection of composites is being put through its paces at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to see how it can improve shop floor productivity for the automotive and aerospace industries.
The Hexagon Blaze 600A uses three high-resolution cameras to capture digital imagery to generate 3D models of measured parts. Its enhanced projection technology means it can be used to scan shiny, black and composite materials without the need for surface preparation and compatibility with robotic installations means it no longer has to be manually guided by an operator, speeding up the scanning process.
Thomas Hodgson, large volume metrology technical lead for the AMRC’s integrated manufacturing group, has been reviewing the state-of-the-art technology and testing its capabilities as part of an AMRC board funded project.
based on Hexagon’s proven white light scanner technology, the Blaze 600A combines high-resolution digital imaging technology with blue light LED illumination to rapidly deliver high-accuracy freeform surface and feature data. The large measurement field efficiently captures high-density point cloud data, while the enhanced projection technology enables virtually any material or surface type - including shiny, painted and reflective surfaces, black parts and composite materials - to be scanned without the need for surface preparation.
“It offers a better understanding of the total part and total assembly performance,” said Thomas.
Thomas has been putting the kit through its paces in a special metrology cell set up at Factory 2050, the collaborative research and development facility home to the IMG.
“Traditionally, if you needed to scan something and it was composite or a shiny metallic part, the process is to use white spray which dulls the surface and allows it to be scanned. The problem with that is you have to clean the part and you have to buy the spray. It can be very costly. With this system, it’s not just cost-savings from a procurement point of view but it’s time saving as well because you don’t have to clean things and that’s quite a big benefit.”
A significant advantage of the fully automated system is it works at a greater speed – resulting in improved throughput and increased shop floor productivity.
“The way the system works when it is used manually is that an operator has to put positioning targets on the part being scanned, which are small white stickers that the 3D scanner uses to position itself and recognise the part and wher it is. That all takes time,” said Thomas.
“When you automate the system, you can rely on the robot to provide the repeatability so you do a one-off scan with the positioning targets and for each subsequent scan you don’t need them. That’s the advantage it has over other systems that still require these positioning targets.”
Thomas said faster inspection rates could have huge benefits not only for automotive manufacturers but the aerospace industry too which is increasingly favouring the use of composite materials in aircraft production.
Tim Gears, Business Development Engineer at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, said the new Hexagon Blaze 600A cell at Factory 2050 is the result of a previous projects conducted with IMG and will have the capability to be reconfigured based on the specific requirements of customers.
Tim said:
“As a member of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the AMRC has opened the door to work with any business, big or small. They have helped us prove-out automation or robotics, or new manufacturing processes at low-cost and with low-risk."
“We need smarter, flexible work cell solutions that enable you to add measurement stations as you need them, optimised solutions by mixing and matching different components or even sensors as necessary.”
The IMG is now scoping for more projects to test the technology for further applications. It is looking to explore statistical process control (SPC) on the system, wher measurement data is used to understand what is happening within the process and flag up any potential problems and make interventions before something goes wrong.