Quality: Laser Radar as a horizontal arm CMM replacement

Chicago, Illinois – For many decades CMM's have been the dominant tool for customers to understand the quality and performance of their components across the various stages of product development. From conceptual design to manufacturing and process control the CMM has set the standard for accuracy and reliability. However, almost as well-known as their benefits, are the shortcomings of the CMM. A large footprint and necessity for a temperature controlled room mean the component must be brought to the CMM. Components too large for the CMM bed can be impossible to measure. It can also be difficult to program and avoid collisions with the part and tooling.

The Laser Radar from Nikon Metrology has emerged as a viable option for customers to address their measurement needs and the shortcomings of the CMM. The Laser Radar is a completely automatable, non-contact measuring device with up to a 50m range and accuracies similar to a horizontal arm CMM. It is currently being used both in temperature controlled areas and directly on manufacturing lines with applications covering the manufacturing spectrum from reverse engineering to tooling certification to process control.  Parts can be measured directly where they are manufactured so trouble shooting root cause analysis can be shortened dramatically. 

The presentation will discuss the principles of the Laser Radar operation and how it performs versus competing technologies such as horizontal arm CMM complete with results and benchmarking studies. We will also discuss how real world customers are taking advantage of the unique characteristics the system provides.

About the speaker
Jon Koepl is the laser radar product specialist at Nikon Metrology Inc. After graduating with an undergraduate degree from the University of Idaho in 1997 Koepl’s decision to take time off before graduate school lead to an 18-year career in metrology developing products and working with customers to develop solutions for their metrology needs. Early in his career he worked as a project engineer and project manager installing inline laser gauging systems supporting the automotive industry. In 2001 he began working with the first automated 3D laser scanning machines, optical checking fixtures. From 2003 to 2010 he continued his work with automated and hand held laser scanning developing robotic scanning applications and integrating 3D laser scanners with industrial robots, portable CMM’s and optical CMM’s. Since 2010 Koepl has worked with Nikon Metrology primarily focused on the Laser Radar where he works with hardware and software partners to meet the ever increasing needs of customers in aerospace and automotive industries.

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