A laser tracking device is a precision measurement instrument that can be used to measure large objects. It has come across the best technology available for inspecting and measuring non-simple objects that require high accuracy. From straightness, flatness, concentricity, and levelness, to perpendicularity, centerline alignment of a rotating object, and parallelism, all can be captured with highly accurate laser trackers. Additionally, several metrology services combine laser tracking device data with other equipment like articulating arms and long-range laser scanners for bridging gaps in measurement ability. This article talks about the applications of laser tracking devices in metrology services.
Monitoring equipment settling and movement
Now that laser trackers are highly precise, they are used with known artifacts or monuments for monitoring the conditions of machines and equipment over time (known as drift monitoring). This digital metrology further allows for making high-accuracy adjustments for keeping processes running consistently and smoothly for a long time. Studying how or large machines or equipment moves over a given period is crucial in many applications.
Many people use tracker services to measure their structures during different seasons for understanding the changes in actual seasonal size and shape or detecting potential creep and deformation.
Thermal growth is the primary reason for these seasonal changes. On combining the long-range laser scanning service, metrology service providers can provide measurement service for short time frame thermal growth problems where it’s not possible or practical to have contact with the objects.
Robotic equipment and machinery adjustment
Precise equipment alignment and inspection services are required for complicated assembly processes to maintain the standard rates of production and low machine downtime. Highly accurate measurements over large distances are possible with laser tracking devices themselves or in combination with lasers and articulating arms.
A professional metrology service provider often employs laser tracking devices along with multiple metrology-grade measuring devices to achieve precise measurement services that couldn’t be done by using a single measurement device.
Equipment modifications
Upgrading or adjusting large complicated machines and equipment can be a challenging task. It is invaluable to have the ability to accurately conduct an equipment inspection and know dimensional conditions before making any further adjustments or modifications.
Using laser tracking devices in the measurement services allow metrology service providers to give their clients live feedback on dimensions and alignments as they adjust. This highly accurate in-process dimensional inspection makes shimming easier and companies can know about alignments in real time.
Conclusion
With the evolution of technology, laser trackers have also evolved into 3d laser tracking devices that are now being used as precision measurement instruments for measuring large, complicated machines and equipment. A laser tracking device is a tripod-mounted unit that uses a laser distance meter and two rotational encoders for measuring distances. In other words, this particular device uses a laser beam for determining the position of an object in three dimensions.
Several metrology services use laser tracking devices for measuring straightness, flatness, concentricity, levelness, perpendicularity, centerline alignment, and parallelism of different objects. A laser tracking device can be used in multiple industries, such as machine building, installation, and fabrication.