Technology enables 7DoF measurement

Hexagon Mfg. Intelligence has released software and a new Ethernet real-time feature pack for the Leica Absolute Tracker AT960 and AT930, which enable 7DoF measurement for laser tracker-based machine control and robotic guidance. This technology adds a time dimension to the measurement data acquired by the laser tracker, made possible by interfacing its LMF communications with the new industrial EtherCAT protocol.

The laser tracker's 7DoF measurement capability enables real-time machine control for milling, drilling, grinding, and polishing in a large-scale manufacturing environment.

For example, an off-the-shelf, 6-axis robot could be deployed with a laser tracker and Leica T-MAC to measure and correct in real time the movement of the robot's end effector for in-place production operations on the factory floor. The machine control system can be synchronized accordingly and corrections can be applied in real time, even in dynamic robotic setups.

Hexagon Mfg. Intelligence * 401-886-2000 * www.hexagonmi.com