The Hexagon Absolute Scanner AS1 has been launched, with claimed ‘first-of-its-kind’ interoperability between portable arm and laser tracker systems.
The set-up, which offers high accuracy and data collection speed of 1.2 million points per second, can be moved back and forth as needed between uses.
A modular blue laser line scanner, the Hexagon AS1 can be used together with a Leica Absolute Tracker AT960 laser tracker, to achieve 3D scanning accuracy to within just 50 microns from up to 30 metres away, handheld or automated.
For smaller applications, the AS1 scanner unit can be mounted to any existing current-generation Absolute Arm 7-Axis system, enabling precision scanning and hidden area inspection within a measurement volume of between 2 and 4.5 metres in diameter.
Tracker functionality for the AS1 is powered by a new handheld positioning unit, the Absolute Positioner AP21.
The AP21 unit allows the AT960 tracker to pick up complete position and orientation information for the scanner.
The AS1 can be quickly mounted to the AP21 using Hexagon’s patented kinematic joint – the same repeatable mounting system already found on Absolute Arm systems, making it possible to swap the same AS1 scanner unit on-the-fly from use on a tracker system to an arm system.
“In developing an upgraded laser scanner for our tracker systems, we wanted to bring the SHINE (Systematic High-Intelligence Noise Elimination) technology we developed for our portable measuring arms into the large-volume applications where trackers are needed,” said Hexagon president metrology of devices Duncan Redgewell.
“The breadth of our team’s hardware expertise has allowed us to develop a solution that breaks down the established barriers between product categories, letting users enjoy best-in-class scanning performance across both arm and tracker applications without the need to invest in multiple scanner units.
“The AS1 can be used in the same way and with the same high-quality results whether paired with our Absolute Tracker or Absolute Arm systems.”
For Absolute Arm systems, the AS1 replaces the current flagship RS6 Laser Scanner, which will be phased out immediately.
