THIS WEEK IN QUALITY: Hardness Testers, 3D Scanners, Laser Radars and More

INNOVATEST Micro Hardness Tester

The Nova 130/240. (Image courtesy of INNOVATEST.)

The new Nova 130/240 series of Micro Vickers and Knoop hardness testing machines from INNOVATEST are designed for a wide range of micro-hardness testing applications.

The NOVA 130 features a three position turret which includes one indenter position as well as a 10x and 40x objective. The NOVA 240 is equipped for more demanding applications, featuring a four position turret including one indenter position, as well as 5x, 10x and 40x objectives.

Both units include USB output, up to 9 dial-selectable test forces and a color touch screen with interaction dialog support which tells the user about the current status of the device, including instructions for performing one or more tests.

For more information, visit the INNOVATEST website.

LMI Technologies 3D Scanner

The HDI Advance R4x. (Image courtesy of LMI Technologies.)

LMI Technologies (LMI) recently announced the official launch of the HDI Advance R4x 3D scanner. Designed for industrial metrology customers, the HDI Advance R4x is a high-precision scanner that quickly generates 3D models.

The HDI Advance R4x's new industrial design and improved performance make it suitable for the industrial metrology market. Compared to the R3x, the R4x's accuracy has been increased by 20 percent with higher resolution cameras and projector.

Notable features include:

A carbon-fiber bar for mounting cameras (and DLSR) that allows the scanner to be used over extended periods of time without the need for recalibration
The ability to set the cameras at fixed positions and angles and scan objects with various fields of view and measurement ranges using the same scanner
A scanning engine (FlexScan3D) that automatically aligns scans, edits 3D models, exports the 3D models into various industry formats and automates the user's processing workflow through a scripting environment.

“With the HDI R4x we’ve delivered a more accurate and flexible scanner for industrial metrology applications like automotive and aerospace parts inspection, including wear and tear analysis for mechanical parts such as pumps and valves, and reverse engineering for CAD model reconstruction” said Chi Ho Ng, director of product management at LMI Technologies.

The release includes an update to the HDI's FlexScan3D software to version 3.3.5 to support the HDI Advance R4x higher-resolution cameras and projector. In addition, all Nikon models and Canon EOS Rebel Tx family DSLR cameras for color texture are now supported in FlexScan3D 3.3.5.

For more information, visit the LMI Technologies website.

Nikon Metrology Laser Radar

The MV331. (Image courtesy of Nikon Metrology.)

Nikon Metrology has introduced the new MV331 and MV351 laser radar for large scale, automated, non-contact metrology. The new laser radar is suitable for aerospace, automotive and renewable energy applications.

The laser radar is designed for single-person operation and supports off-line programming for automated and unattended operation. Nikon’s patented technology enables direct surface and feature measurements at high data rates, which eliminates the need for photogrammetry targets, spherically mounted retro reflectors (SMRs) and handheld probes.

The MV331/351 can also reduce inspection times with high-speed ‘vision scans’ that capture up to 2,000 points per second. For manual measurements, the multi-zoom overview camera allows the operator to locate the target part within a larger workspace.

The laser radar can automatically perform feature, edge and trim measurements and its edge-detection tools also allow users to measure both sharp and hemmed edges.

Existing inspection stations can be converted to measure with the laser radar as it can directly measure traditional tooling like tooling balls, photogrammetry dots, trihedrals or reflective tape.

Redesigned internal components and improved environmental control allow the MV331/351 to run a full day between field checks, even in a manufacturing environment.

The laser radar can scan dark, diffuse and highly-reflective materials or surface finishes at sharp incident angles. The system’s high signal/noise ratio yields repeatable range measurements on composites, metals and highly-reflective painted surfaces.

For automated inline or line-side inspections, the MV331 can be installed on a standard 6-axis robot arm with the built-in robot mounting interface.

For more information, visit the Nikon Metrology website.

Zetec Ultrasonic Testing Instrument

The Topaz32. (Image coutesy of Zetec.)

Zetec, Inc. recently introduced the new Topaz32, an integrated phased array ultrasonic instrument for nondestructive testing (NDT) projects. The Topza32 is intended for oil and gas, power generation, manufacturing and transportation applications.

A new on-board computer is designed to improve the power of the instrument and reduce typical processing times by up to 50 percent at setup creation, calibration or reporting.

When the a Zetec scanner or accessory, such as a probe, is connected to the Topaz32 it will automatically recognize and pre-configure accordingly.

Data acquisition speed has been improved compared to the previous generation, reducing time for processing and creating reports by up to 50 percent.

The embedded UltraVision touch software includes 2D matrix array probe support without the need for additional external software. On the hardware side, the new Topaz32’s magnesium housing has no air intake, making it well-suited to harsh environments.

For more information, visit the Zetec website.

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