FARO Introduces a Scanner Update to Its Cobalt Array Imager

Measurement instrumentation company FARO has announced a major update to its Cobalt Array Imager, including a new 9MP camera and onboard processing.

Aimed squarely at the automotive and aerospace markets, the new Cobalt Array Imager adds a full 4MPs to the 3D scanner's arsenal. With this new camera, fine details like edge features, subtle surface deviations and even stamped, machined or engraved elements can be captured.

While the upgraded Cobalt Array Imager’s biggest selling point is the fact that it offers a dramatic jump in resolution, FARO hasn’t abandoned its early 5MP model of the Cobalt. On the company's insistence, the 5MP option is still viable for those who can compromise resolution for a price break.

In addition to its upgraded optics, the new Cobalt comes equipped with an onboard processor, a feature that's unique to the Cobalt line, which transforms the machine into a “smartsensor.” In reality, the Cobalt's onboard processing gives users the option to daisy chain a suite of scanners together to inspect every surface of a larger object rapidly.

So, now that we've dispensed with the stats that buttress FARO's release, the question remains, why would FARO release this modest update to a product that’s less than a year old?

The only thing that makes sense in my mind is that FARO sees the 3D scanning market growing rapidly enough that users are starting to popup at multiple price points. In fact, according to a market assessment released in March, the 3D scanning market could grow to $11.14 billion by 2022. With a market that large, diversifying the price of entry seems like the right tactic for FARO, and for its competitors as well.