High-Speed Non-Contact Measurement Solution “A New Vision in Coordinate Measurement” 2007-01-1382

The high-speed three-dimensional measurement segment is associated with the introduction of both in-line and off-line production measurement technology. This segment forms the core strategy in a large number of industries, notably the automotive and aviation sectors.

The demand for high-speed three-dimensional measurement systems is particularly strong in the automotive sector, for a range of applications from sheet metal working to mechanical machining. There is a need for such systems in bodywork assembly and stamping applications to perform controls on both full vehicle body - Body-in-White - and on “subunits” - body sides, doors, etc. The control systems used to inspect Body-in-White are usually called “measurement tunnels”. They are found at the production prototype stage as much as they are on the production line where they provide quality improvement led by continuous in-line inspection.

ActiCM has designed and is developing a non-contact measurement tunnel as part of its partnership with Renault’s Vehicle Prototype Center/Technocentre. This tunnel uses AdventCR, optical technology that drastically reduces the duration to perform the 3D inspection of vehicle prototypes. The powerful image-processing and 3D calculation algorithms used by AdventCR offer faster three-dimensional controls than any current Coordinate Measurement Machines.

Renault intends to use this technology to shorten the tryout phase for new vehicle designs that require exhaustive controls on a number of prototypes, and to benefit from the power of the post-measurement diagnostic tool. AdventCR gives significantly faster Body-in-White control measurements: a complete measurement process usually takes the prototype off-the-line for ten hours or more; with the AdventCR “non-contact tunnel measurement” system, the Body-in-White data acquisition is dramatically cut to less than one hour. The other substantial benefit of AdventCR is its ability to offer the image data and tools for performing post-acquisition measurement possibilities; unlike other three-dimensional measuring techniques, AdventCR enables the user to measure a geometric element that is not identified in the original control survey under the condition that the element is visible within the images of the images database.

This document provides a detailed introduction to the AdventCR solution and its role in assembled body control applications, and then explains the qualification process established with Renault and the results.