Hexagon Unveils New Metrology Solutions at IMTS

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division announced a number of new metrology-related products at the IMTS 2024 event in Chicago.

Metrology Mentor is a new SaaS application that automates the creation of measurement programs. The software solution (powered by the company’s Nexus digital reality platform) offers rapid, reliable and repeatable measurement programs, the company said.

Metrology Mentor addresses the time and complexity of coordinate-measuring machine (CMM) programming. By leveraging advanced algorithms, the software automates the creation of measurement programs directly from CAD data, adhering to industry standards such as ISO and ASME. According to the company, Metrology Mentor eliminates the need for manual programming, reducing human errors and ensuring consistency across all measurement processes.

“In the face of a significant labor gap, and experienced professionals retiring, it has become increasingly challenging to find talented CMM programmers. The majority of manufacturers are struggling to maintain efficiencies and a rapid time to market amid an ongoing reduction of metrology expertise available in-house,” said Greg Holdsworth, Product Manager at Hexagon. “Metrology Mentor is designed to reduce that burden and diminish the need for training, while instilling greater confidence in program accuracy. You don’t need to be a CMM expert to program the parts, as the system does the heavy lifting, freeing up valuable operator time. This means manufacturers can minimize errors, clear bottlenecks and complete projects more quickly.”

The new Hexagon VISIUS product is an intuitive optical coordinate measuring solution designed to address the evolving quality inspection needs of modern manufacturers and machine shops, the company said.

“For far too long, manufacturers have had to choose between a rock and hard place when it comes to quality inspection,” said Ryan Toole, Product Manager at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence. “The only options were to purchase expensive measurement tools that are highly accurate but require a skilled metrologist to use. Alternatively, the use of other tools and manual methods such as calipers, micrometers, etc. are affordable but don’t have the precision level needed to deliver consistent results. This is why we’ve developed VISIUS. By combining advanced technology with user-friendly design, we’ve created a system that empowers manufacturers to achieve exceptional results without breaking the bank.”

VISIUS comes in an all-in-one configuration, including:

• Non-contact vision measurement: Captures high-resolution images for accurate part inspection.
• Touch probe capabilities: Provides precise measurements of discrete points.
• Chromatic White Light Sensor (CWS) option: Enables non-contact surface measurements.

In addition, Hexagon’s METUS measuring software is specifically designed for use with VISIUS. The software removes complexity from vision measurement workflows and reduce time and costs associated with quality and process control tasks.

VISIUS can also integrate with HxGN Visual Detection, Hexagon’s automated surface inspection software that applies machine learning to automatically detect and classify surface defects such as scratches, dents and blemishes on a wide range of materials. VISIUS offers ISO 10360 standard-compliant measurement accuracy.

The company also announced the Leica Absolute Tracker ATS800, which combines laser tracking with laser radar functionality, allowing manufacturers to measure detailed features and meet tight assembly tolerances from tens of metres away. According to the company, the Leica Absolute Tracker ATS800 offers significant productivity improvements in large-scale part manufacturing and assembly operations by safely and rapidly measuring critical features and minimising common production bottlenecks.  

The new system enables manufacturers to accurately measure fine edges and features across large volumes, quickly and from convenient stand-off distances. This avoids unreliable measurements and safety issues and provides significant time savings, the company said.

By combining direct scanning and reflector tracking capabilities, the new system replaces two pieces of hardware with a single device. Using Hexagon’s patented PowerLock technology, the ATS800 automatically and immediately “locks on” to a fixed reflector and tracks its movements in real time, providing an absolute position reference. The ability to measure target reflectors also greatly simplifies robotic automation processes, providing precise position referencing within a wider coordinate system when the tracker is mounted on a linear rail or an autonomous mobile robot (AMR).

“Industries like aerospace and shipbuilding are making large structures where scale and detail are equally important,” said Pirmin Bitzi, General Manager for Portable Measuring Devices at Hexagon. “We’re excited to offer manufacturers a system that delivers leading-edge capabilities to measure intricate features with less disruption at the heart of production and throughout the critical stages of assembly.” 

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