Noncontact 3D Digitizer from Konica Minolta Offers Industry Accuracy

By DE Editors

In keeping with its focus in industrial measurement of color, light, and shape, Konica Minolta Sensing Americas, Inc. (KMSA; Ramsey, NJ), just launched the RANGE7, a high-speed,  high-accuracy, noncontact 3D digitizer enabling companies to exchange 3D CAD data. The company says the RANGE7 will start a new era of noncontact 3D scanning. Let’s see why.

Designed to meet the needs of the industrial inspection, manufacturing, and quality control segments in various industries, KMSA says the RANGE7 is the first in a new series of high-performance 3D scanning instruments. It can take high-speed scans of approximately 2 seconds per shot and uses interchangeable lenses to provide a broad scan range.

Using a new 1.31-megapixel (Mp) CMOS sensor that can detect finely detailed shapes as well as newly designed optics, KMSA says the RANGE7 achieves the highest level of guaranteed accuracy for a noncontact camera type 3D measurement instrument,  with an accuracy of ±40 micron (measurement conditions: TELE lens, 450mm distance, 20 degrees C ±1 degree C ambient temperature, other conditions according to Konica Minolta Sensing standards) according to ball bar accuracy testing based on VDI/VDE 2634 guidelines.

The RANGE7 was designed specifically for onsite use, minimizing the influence of instrument tilt or temperature changes at the time of measurement in order to provide high reliability in actual use environments — such as in factories. Further, the new sensor and original measurement algorithm provides an expanded dynamic range. Even objects with gloss, such as metallic surfaces, etc. can be measured. Plus, its portability can be attributed to its compact, lightweight design.

“Not only is the RANGE7 accurate and very portable,” says Bryan Alan Bond,  applications engineer at KMSA, “but it allows you to scan almost all shiny objects without any surface preparation.”

Original high-speed processing circuits enable high-speed scanning of approximately 2 seconds per shot, and the RANGE7 is equipped with a 3D preview function that lets users predict the measurement results and check for scan area depth, dead angles, scan problems due to surface conditions, and so forth, beforehand to greatly reduce scanning mistakes. A navigation function exists to guide users through the measurement process in the accompanying software.

The TELE and WIDE lenses can be interchanged according to the measurement subject to provide a broad scan range, and the autofocus (AF) function further advances a multifocus mode that automatically shifts the focus position to provide sharp, high-accuracy 3D measurement data and a point AF function that adjusts the focus to the point specified by the user, enabling scanning work to be performed without being concerned with fine positioning of the measurement subject.

The RANGE7’s compact and lightweight (6.7kg) design are both less than 1/2 those of previous models, enabling the camera and controller to be integrated in a single body to provide high mobility in measurement environments. When the optional special stand is used, the RANGE7 can be easily moved about and measurements taken when necessary for stress-free work (as with previous models, a tripod can also be used.) User calibration can be performed with the RANGE7 mounted on the stand.

The newly developed RANGE VIEWER scanning software supports comfortable scanning operation, and is included with the instrument as standard. It provides various editing functions ranging from scanning control of the instrument and registration of measured data, to data integration. Ultimately, this package lets users handle large amounts data; has an user-friendly, easy-to-use GUI;  offers smooth interaction with third-party application software; and is Windows Vista (64-bit) supported.

KMSA says that the thousands of companies that use its instruments range from plastics, paints and coatings, to automotive — 3D digitizers are used in medical, surgical, and dental applications as well as industrial design, game software development,  animation, virtual reality, architectural, inspection, reverse engineering,  rapid prototyping, and more. It is for these markets that KMSA’s RANGE7 noncontact 3D digitizer is targeted in order to open up the possibilities of noncontact 3D measurement by adding the reliability, operability, and transportability users have come to expect from Konica Minolta’s optical technologies and AF/AE controls.

KMSA says this RANGE7 builds on the success of its VIVID line of 3D digitizers introduced in 1997. Since then, KMSA says it maintained what it sees as its dominance in the noncontact 3D digitizer market with the introduction of the VIVID 300, VIVID 900, and VIVID 9i — all of which are suitable for such applications as the measurement of cultural artifacts and the human body.

Click here to go to Konica Minolta Sensing Americas, Inc.

Click here to read why DE‘s editors made this a Pick of the Week.

Click here to link directly to the Introduction about RANGE7.

Click here to view the Specifications for the RANGE7.

Click here to view KMSA’s earlier 3D scanners,  the VIVID 9i and VIVID 910.

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