Hexagon lends an arm to boost AFRC’s measurement capacity

The AFRC will benefit from equipment that includes Hexagon’s ROMER Absolute Arm, with the centre scheduled to receive an upgraded model, billed as “the most accurate piece of technology of its type ever produced”. Other key technology made by the company will also be donated.

AFRC senior manufacturing engineer and metrology team lead Danny McMahon commented: “Access to this pioneering technology marks an evolution in our ability to help manufacturers in their own facilities. It can really benefit a production facility in sectors such as automotive, aviation or shipbuilding, checking for defects or measuring and inspecting large parts.

“This equipment is a large investment for small and medium-sized companies and so we’re sharing resources and making it as accessible to firms across Scotland of all sizes. We are also looking to integrate metrology with robotics, creating a highly accurate machine tool that has highly efficient measurement capabilities.”

Hexagon, meanwhile, will be able to access to the AFRC’s core research programme and its network that includes leading manufacturing and technology companies, such as Rolls-Royce and Virtalis.

Access to this pioneering technology marks an evolution in our ability to help manufacturers in their own facilities

Danny McMahon, senior manufacturing engineer/metrology team lead, Strathclyde AFRC 

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence business development engineer Tim Gears said: “This partnership enables us to take a step back from day to day goings on to look at our key operational areas and core skills. At the same time, we will keep the AFRC updated with the very latest Hexagon kit.”

Hexagon currently collaborates with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) and Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC).

Hexagon equipment now available to the AFRC includes:

• Leica AT960-LR Laser Tracker large-volume scanner for inspection applications. It has an extensive range of up to 160 meters’ diameter and 40m with six degrees of freedom orientation.

• T-Probe III a ‘walk-around’ armless wireless device for probing hidden, hard-to-reach points capturing up to 1,000 points per second. Combined with the AT960 tracker for previously unfeasible 3D digitisation tasks.

• LAS & LAS-XL handheld 3D scanners for producing digital models.  Used with the tracker, to allow handheld, portable 3D scans. The XL model is for larger scans, which have traditionally been challenging, with a standoff distance of one metre. 

• ROMER Absolute Arm lightweight 3D measurement and analysis tool.