Show Daily - Sema

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 Show 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
#SEMAShow |
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 Show Daily 97