96 SEMA <strong>Show</strong> <strong>Daily</strong>
Laser Metrology: The New Wave By Mike Imlay Hexagon Metrology Regional Sales Manager Robb Rudluff recently demonstrated the portability and effectiveness of a six-axis Romer arm during a SEMA measuring session at the association’s headquarters. As the old fabrication adage goes, “measure twice, cut once.” In other words, exacting measurements are central to manufacturing and other shop operations. Coordinate measurement machine (CMM) lasers have revolutionized manufacturing, offering fast and highly precise laser scanning for purposes of reverse engineering, product development and quality control. The technology is simple: Using a CMM laser, a manufacturer can rapidly scan a part or model three-dimensionally, making hundreds or thousands of data-point measurements per second, and create a highly accurate computer-aided design (CAD) file from the scans. That CAD file can then be used to engineer new parts or serve as a comparison file for quality control. SEMA <strong>Show</strong> exhibitor Hexagon Metrology offers a suite of Romer portable CMM laser measuring arms and scanners that it believes have “fundamentally changed coordinate metrology by going where traditional measuring machines can’t.” In fact, Hexagon Metrology Regional Sales Manager Robb Rudluff recently demonstrated the portability and effectiveness of a six-axis Romer arm during a SEMA Measuring Session at the association’s headquarters in Diamond Bar, California. Rudluff operated the arm on behalf of SEMA-member manufacturer Airaid to engineer a performance intake product for the Scion FR-S. He pointed out that the six-axis, point-to-point CMM probe is among the most popular models for automotive aftermarket use, at a starting price of $39,000. It can scan 200 points per second with its standard probe attachment. Hexagon Metrology, exhibiting in booth #10402, is the world’s largest manufacturer of precision dimensional measurement equipment and software. Hexagon manufactures CMMs, articulated arms, laser trackers, height gages, vision inspection systems, theodolites, and hand tools under well-known brand names, including Brown & Sharpe, CogniTens, M&H Probes, Leica Geosystems, Leitz, DEA, ROMER, Sheffield, TESA and PC-DMIS. Thanks to their portability, Hexagon’s Romer arms and laser trackers boast a variety of manufacturing applications. They can be used in a factory for large-part and assembly inspection, including inspection of first-off-the-line parts to ensure conformity to CAD designs or other specs. The Romers can also help with incoming quality control, inspecting arriving parts right on the dock. The arms allow for precise 3-D positioning of parts for assembly as well as setting up tooling and fixturing. Coverking (booth #20513), Vice President for Product Development Steve Gupta is also a big believer in the ability of CMM laser cloud scanning to revolutionize a business. To that end, Coverking recently made a sizable capital investment in a laser-based scanner for the creation of one-off custom car covers. The technology allows Coverking to scan any vehicle and render a precise 3-D CAD file of its exterior surface. That CAD file can then be converted to a 2-D pattern file for a precision-fit cover. “It’s enabled us to reach an accuracy and detail in pattern making that was just not possible before,” said Gupta. “As we’ve moved into a market of more and more specialty, this has really allowed us to almost create a new market just because some of the patterns that we’re making now were not available before. There’s a new level of customer who’s just amazed by the kind of fit that’s now possible.” Even more amazing is the technology’s portability and speed. Coverking can bring the scanner equipment to car shows and events—or even a customer’s garage. From scan to finished product, a cover can be completed inside a week to exactly fit any street rod, chopped body or collector vehicle. Moreover, the extra expense to the consumer is minimal: Gupta said that this level of customization adds a mere $100–$150 to the cost of a regular custom cover that, depending upon materials, can run from $75–$500. “You know SEMA’s all about specialty and customizing,” Gupta said. “Consider that in this small product segment of car covers, there was once a period where you had to buy kind of an ‘almost-fit’ small, medium or large cover. Then we introduced custom covers and, yeah, they were custom, but now we’ve gone to a level of such detail that you might call it ‘super custom.’ It’s gotten to the point where we’re able to make a cover to fit street rods, chop tops and all the different vehicles that the SEMA community creates—and it’s a perfect fit, not a compromised fit.” Over at SEMA-member company Continued on page 98 #SEMA<strong>Show</strong> | TOOLS & EQUIPMENT AirHoseRepairKit.com .................10572 AirVANTAGE Tools ....................10266 Almco Inc. ..........................10232 American Crane Inc. ..................10238 Armaxa ............................10140 Ascent Systems Inc. ..................10202 Assenmacher Specialty Tools............10276 Atlantic Safety Products................10501 Atlas Copco Compressors LLC ...........10309 Autoliftsafety.com ....................10575 Autoshop Solutions ...................10243 Auto Step...........................10484 AutoTwirler .........................10414 Bad Dog Tools .................10361, 10600 BelAire Compressors ..................10109 Big Ass Fans ........................10160 Black Rhino .........................10143 Borroughs Corp.......................10125 Campbell Hausfeld....................10218 Cecil Muggy.........................10281 Challenger Lifts ......................10209 Champion Pneumatic..................10333 Channellock Inc. .....................10379 Chassis Lincer .......................10339 Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co..............10100 Clamptite Tools ......................10585 Controller Technologies Corp.............36232 Cool-A-Zone ........................10460 CPS Products Inc. ....................10376 CTEK Power Inc. .....................10419 Cuda Aqueous Parts Washers ...........10425 Cycle Time Solutions LLC...............10300 Daisy Tool Corporation .................10668 Dale Adams Enterprises Inc. ............10324 Dan-Am Air .........................10612 Delcam ............................10154 Deltran Corp. ........................10101 Demandforce........................10113 Denison Industries....................10413 Diamond Saw Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10377 Direct Lift ..........................10339 Dorcy International Inc. ................10467 DSi ...............................10584 DV Systems .........................33276 Dynabrade Inc. ......................10229 Edwards Manufacturing Company ........10133 EFC International .....................10348 Elantec Industrial Manufacturing Co. Ltd.. . . 10165 Elektron Inc. ........................10339 ENCO..............................10519 Enter Corp. .........................10565 Envirolution/EST Products ..............10630 Epilog Laser.........................10271 Equalizer Industries Inc.................10576 Eurovac Inc..........................10650 FARO Technologies ...................10371 Fenghua Bida Machinery Manufacturing Co. Ltd. 10374 Flo-Dynamics .......................10555 Fluid D-Terminator....................37201 Forward Lift.........................10339 Fountain Industries ...................10350 GearWrench...................10508, 10509 Genius Tools ........................10228 Glass Bot Current as of October 15, 2012 Automated Auto Glass Removal System ...............10274 Grain Point Enterprise Limited . . . . . . . . . . . 10184 Great Stuff Inc. ......................10686 Grey Pneumatic Corp. .................10473 Grip-Tite ...........................10203 Hammer Works Manufacturing ..........11379 Hannibal Industries ...................10185 HE&M Saw/FEMI .....................10208 Hexagon Metrology Inc. ................10402 Hoist Hanger ........................32251 Homak.............................10122 IKOTEC USA.........................10325 Ingersoll Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10149 InstantAutoSite.com...................10152 IRONWEAR..........................35226 Jache SDN BHD......................10680 Continued on page 99 SEMA <strong>Show</strong> <strong>Daily</strong> 97