What is Metrology Part 3: FARO

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FARO

FARO is a company doing a lot in terms of 3D measurement, imagining, and realization technology. They develop and manufacture leading edge solutions that enable high-precision 3D capture, measurement and analysis across a variety of industries including manufacturing, construction, engineering and public safety. Some of their goals include: enabling faster, more accurate, compelling and useable 3D documentation, accelerating execution timelines, minimizing in field 3D documentation & measurement times, shrinking margin impacting scrap & rework costs, as well as reducing product development risks. FARO’s global headquarters are located in Lake Mary, Florida. The Company also has a technology center and manufacturing facility consisting of approximately 90,400 square feet located in Exton, Pennsylvania containing research and development, manufacturing and service operations of our FARO Laser Tracker and FARO Cobalt Array 3D Imager product lines. The Company’s European regional headquarters is located in Stuttgart, Germany and its Asia Pacific regional headquarters is located in Singapore. FARO has other offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Turkey, the Netherlands, Switzerland, India, China, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Australia and Japan. Today I will talk about the company and some of its products.

Something of interest to me in terms of Faro is their insight & resources page. The Insights Center helps one find the information needed to explore, learn and master 3D technology in the industry. This page is telling in how FARO is committed to being an organization that wants to help educate others within the overall field of 3D technology. With them focusing on enabling others to do well, it also builds their brand name as well. They give access to free trials for different software tools they provide and interaction with specialists at live events.

FARO is an organization that provides 3D metrology solutions to different companies. For more than 30 years, FARO Technologies, Inc. has been a company driven by a relationship between the creators and users of measurement technologies. FARO had its start between two friends working on their PhDs in biomedical engineering at McGill University in Montreal. Simon Raab and Greg Fraser founded Res-Tech on February 21, 1981, the name was changed to FARO two years later when they began developing technology and software to support advanced surgical and diagnostic methods. They introduced their first articulated-arm measurement technology in 1984, with additional models following in 1986 and 1988. In 1993 they repositioned the company to focus on the industrial space.

FARO offers various hardware equipment to organizations. Their list of hardware products include:

  1. FaroArm & ScanArm
  2. Laser Tracker
  3. 3D Imager
  4. 3D Scanners

FaroArm

The FaroArm is a CMM used for a variety of applications. The FaroArm is available in three different models with various system integrations. These include QuantumS, QuantumM, and QuantumE; with several laser line probe options. It is also available as part of a combined Super 6 Degrees of Freedom TrackArm solution, when integrated with a FARO Vantage laser tracker system, for large complex inspection applications.

As the first portable CMM arm in the market to be internationally certified to ISO 10360-12 standards, FARO has the inspection tool solution, when accuracy is a must! Designed with consistency and reliability in mind, the FARO 3D measuring arm performs in a wide range of work environments including extreme temperatures, shop floors, and mobile environments.

Faro Laser Tracker

FARO Vantage Laser Trackers optimize workflow productivity for large-scale metrology applications including, but not limited to, assembly alignment, part and assembly inspection, machine installation and alignment, and reverse engineering. Both compact and portable; the Vantage line of laser trackers offers an array of features:

  • ActiveSeek technology that allows the laser trackers to find and follow the target, even after the user passes behind obstructions.
  • 6DoF (6 Degrees of Freedom) Handheld 6-Probe enables the user to measure hidden areas that are not in direct line of sight, as well as small, tight, hard-to-reach areas.
  • High-Speed Dynamic Measurement
  • RemoteControls Workflow
  • Exceptional Portability and Ruggedness
  • Easy Integration with FARO’s Patented Super 6 DoF TrackArm Solution

FARO Imager

The FARO Cobalt Array 3D Imager is a metrology-grade non-contact scanner which captures millions of high resolution 3D coordinate measurements in seconds. The Cobalt Array Imager is equipped with dedicated on-board processors. The smart sensor allows multi-imager array configurations which expand the scan area to deliver rapid, automated and comprehensive inspection; dramatically improving cycle time. The actionable data is then displayed as simple go/no-go result or an easy-to-read dimensional deviation color map.

The Cobalt Array Imager is designed for the factory floor so it can be used anywhere inspection is needed, thereby aligning to lean manufacturing principles of eliminating unnecessary movements and time. Cobalt delivers large measurements for dimensional inspection and reverse engineering applications on parts, assemblies, and tooling. Cobalt’s versatility supports a variety of deployment options including tripod, rotary table, robot, industrial inspection cells and multiple imager arrays.

Focus Series Scanners

The Focus Series of 3D scanners consist of three laser scanners with different ranges: Focus 350 for long-range measurements up to 350m, Focus 150 for mid-range measurements up to 150m and Focus 70, perfectly suitable for short-term measurements up to 70m.

With their sealed design, all S Laser Scanner models are certified via the industry-standard Ingress Protection (IP) Rating, and classified in Class 54 for environmental protection. The devices are built to safeguard against intrusions such as dirt, dust, fog and rain as well as other outdoor elements which typically occur in challenging scanning conditions. An extended temperature range allows scanning in extreme environments, such as deserts.

Outside the previously outlined products within Faro’s portfolio, they have various photonics and optics based technologies. All of these technologies have complementing software. The organizations then provide these technologies to different organizations that would like to use them for different purposes. It is an all encompassing model of ingratiating a company to the field of 3D metrology and general metrology as a whole. This is a quick overview of some of their products as they are a major player within the field of metrology. We will continue to look into different organizations and technology within the metrology field.

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