Measurement System to Optimize Automation Processes 2009-01-3087

Modern manufacturing processes are constantly under observation to improve efficiency and reduce costs. In many cases new materials like CFK need a different approach to check part tolerances which in general increase the effort. Based on these facts a 6DoF Laser Tracker System could become one solution to reduce costs and improve measurement quality especially in the direction of automation.

The following paper describes a Laser Tracker with a machine control probe (T-Mac) for online measurements of machines or robots. Measurements to analyse static and dynamic robot performance and different methods to calibrate or improve absolute accuracy of robots are shown. Meanwhile online corrections for a robot or a machine can be realized with an update-rate of 10 Hz, but activities to establish a 1000 Hz real-time interface are planned. With the 6DoF capability this Laser Tracker system provides significant enhancements for measurement assisted assembly or for automated part inspection directly. Recently started developments for further sensor enhancements with respect to automated part inspection will open additional fields of robot and machine applications.