Fast 3D White Light Scanning Comes to Hexagon’s Absolute Arm

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division launched the RS-SQUARED Area Scanner for the Absolute Arm—pairing for the first time an area scanner with a portable measurement arm. Designed for high-speed scanning of simple shapes and surfaces, the RS-SQUARED can measure parts faster than conventional laser scanners and even other structured light scanners.

By combining the flexibility of a portable arm with the speed of structured light scanning technology, RS-SQUARED takes up to four square “tiles” of 3D point data per second, while maintaining the high accuracy measurement of the touch probe, even in difficult-to-reach areas. Because RS SQUARED does not require reference markers or employ fringe projection like other similar scanners, the time necessary to scan the part is reduced to the absolute minimum.

“With RS-SQUARED we want our users to scan their parts in the minimum amount of time,” says Anthony Vianna, product manager for the Absolute Arm. “And that means not only the time to scan the complete part, but also the time to prepare it. The fact that RS-SQUARED is the first area scanner to not use reference markers in the traditional way—because the Absolute Arm does the referencing for it—is one of the key things that allows our users to measure with the minimum of downtime.”

The RS-SQUARED Area Scanner is the perfect complement to the existing range of scanners, sensors and probes that are already available for Hexagon Absolute Arms, representing an ultra-high-speed alternative most suited to large parts with lower detail requirements. Just like the current RS6 and RS5 Laser Scanner systems, the RS-SQUARED can be easily removed from the arm at any time and swapped for another sensor or probe without any need for calibration.

Together with the release of this groundbreaking new scanner, Hexagon have also announced new Control Packs for the latest generation of Absolute Arm systems. Both new Control Packs will offer complete functionality over a single cable, helping to reduce shop floor clutter. The high-end Wireless Pack model will also deliver full-speed scanning performance over Wi-Fi for all Absolute Arm scanners, including the flagship RS6 Laser Scanner and the new RS-SQUARED Area Scanner, along with dual hot-swappable batteries for all-day power.

The RS-SQUARED Area Scanner is available to order immediately from local Hexagon representatives around the world. It is available for purchase as a complete system with a new Absolute Arm 7-Axis, and as a retrofit for any current generation Absolute Arm 7-Axis systems. All new orders of a complete Absolute Arm system will also ship with one of the Control Pack models.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.

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