Hexagon’ has released two handheld 3D scanners for manufacturing and MRO inspection in the aerospace sector.
The Atlascan Max and Marvelscan are the company’s first handheld 3D scanning devices and can be used in environments inside and outside of the factory shopfloor.
Both devices are highly portable and can also be used for handheld scanning, automated quality inspection applications and for a wide range of reverse engineering needs.
Pirmin Bitzi, general manager for portable measuring devices at Hexagon said, “Today, manufacturing and engineering teams recognise the value of up-to-date 3D scans throughout the product lifecycle. This means almost anyone might need to perform a metrology-grade scan of a part regardless of their location.
“Our first handheld 3D scanners enable customers to digitalise parts without worrying about fixturing or environmental conditions and Marvelscan’s integrated photogrammetry system aligns to reference targets without the need for stickering.
“Wireless and ergonomic, these scanners provide a seamless, instant scanning experience from the shop floor to the shipyard.”
Productivity is crucial, regardless of the inspection environment. Atalscan Max and Marvelscan users can adapt workflows on the fly using ergonomic, thumb-operated controls that streamline 3D scanning processes in confined spaces and rugged or outdoor environments.
Eliminating the need to access a control PC during measurement, multi-mode scanning enables different feature types and surface needs to be measured efficiently. For example, users can scan open surfaces with Standard mode, then quickly switch to Fine mode with the on-device controls for higher resolution on intricate features. Crucially, the data collected under these different modes are automatically combined into a single, workable point cloud.
The new devices also eliminate the need to fixture parts prior to measurement, which contributes to time savings and allows greater measurement flexibility. The scanners and parts can be moved freely during measurement, reducing the time it takes to capture complete part data without negatively affecting inspection results.
For further productivity gains, the common and time-consuming task of measuring multiple holes and slots is made easier with a hole-flash capture mode that enables instant data capture of multiple holes and slots in the same shot.
The Marvelscan raises features built-in photogrammetry that delivers targetless scanning functionality for scanning large parts and repetitive parts without the time-consuming task of placing targets on the part itself. This photogrammetry function also enhance scanning accuracy for large, delicate parts.
The handheld scanners have been designed to enable easier scanning of hard-to-reach places. According to Hexagon the scanners are capable of completely wireless measurement with battery-powered autonomy – a first in the metrology-grade handheld scanner market – without being tied to a PC or power source.
The devices are also suitable for integration within automated inspection processes mounted on industrial robots or cobots.
