Nikon Metrology has introduced its latest CMM laser scanner, the Nikon InSight L100. "For 20 years, Nikon Metrology has pioneered laser scanning and gradually sharpened the capabilities of this non-contact measuring technology," said a company spokesperson. "Nikon's optics combined with innovative camera technology resulted in this new scanner. The InSight L100 CMM laser scanner offers an excellent combination of speed, accuracy and ease of use. Suited for both surface and feature measurement, even on shiny or multi-material parts, the Insight L100 quickly delivers accurate data and insightful part-to-CAD comparison reports.
"The InSight L100 is ideal to inspect larger components where productivity is key but without having to compromise on accuracy. The 100 mm wide Field-of-View (FOV) combined with the data acquisition speed of 200,000 points/second results in a measurement productivity that was not achievable with CMM scanning before."
To facilitate manual scan path programming, the InSight L100 features a new full FOV projector. By making sure that the scan line falls within the projected FOV, the user can get good part coverage, according to the company.
"The InSight L100 is equipped with a high-quality glass Nikon lens optimized for laser scanning," said the spokesperson. "Combined with the high-definition camera, this results in a point resolution of only 42 um enabling fine detail capture and measurement of sharper edges. The InSight L100 has an exceptionally small probing error of 6,5 um - which is a measure of the scanner's noise level - resulting in smooth meshes with high levels of detail.
"The InSight L100 is suited for combined surface and feature measurement. Due to the low noise level and high-point resolution, feature measurement accuracy approaches the accuracy of a touch probe."
According to the company, a greater range and mix of surface materials, finishes, colors and transitions can be measured more efficiently without user interaction, manual tuning and part spraying. Nikon Metrology's fourth-generation Enhanced Scanner Performance (ESP4) technology is designed to adapt the laser intensity for each point in the scan line to varying colors or materials faster. This enables the scanner to digitize multi-material assemblies or shiny surfaces without the need for surface treatment.
The patent-pending integrated mount rotation allows the scanner to rotate around its autojoint axis in 30° increments up to 90°. "This saves the use of autojoint adaptors and is interesting to measure turbine blades or parts with vertically oriented features and edges," said the spokesperson. "The InSight L100 also allows the use of an extended 105° PH10 A-angle allowing better access to measure underneath or behind parts.
"By utilizing laser scanning, manufacturers can gain full insight of the dimensional quality of their products without compromising on cycle times. As the entire part is checked to CAD model, any areas of concern are immediately highlighted using color mapping. Further investigation and analysis is possible using fly-outs, sections and a library of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T). These easy-to-interpret graphical reports facilitate exchange of results with internal or external colleagues or suppliers. This ultimately leads to easier decision-making, faster corrective actions and shorter time-to-market."
The InSight L100 scanner can be combined with tactile probes and change rack to create a versatile fully automated multi-sensor CMM. Depending on the application both technologies can be used independently or together within the same inspection program. The InSight L100 can also be retrofitted to a wide range of CMM brands. A video of the scanner is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKq7akZLopk.
For more information contact:
Nikon Metrology, Inc.
12701 Grand River Rd.
Brighton, MI 48116
810-494-5616
kate.vandermeulen@nikon.com
www.nikonmetrology.com