ZEISS Research & Quality Solutions has introduced ZEISS TALOS, a metrology robot intended for automated, high-volume inspection. The system combines what ZEISS describes as metrology-grade accuracy with flexible robotic kinematics. According to the company, it delivers measurement uncertainty below 100 µm over a reach of 3.30 meters. The robot positions the sensor precisely and repeatably without external tracking systems or reference markers, ZEISS says. This is intended to allow reliable measurement of medium-sized and large components, including areas that are difficult to access with conventional line-of-sight measurement systems.
Integrated measurement unit
The TALOS MR metrology robot and the compact TALOS AX blue-light sensor form an integrated measurement unit. ZEISS also supplies the TALOS RT metrology-grade rotation table and the TALOS Safeguard safety concept. Dr. Jan Thesing, head of the 3D Optical Systems business unit at ZEISS, said the system integrates metrological capabilities directly into the automated platform while retaining the speed, range and flexibility of robotic kinematics.
One sensor for surfaces and features
ZEISS says a longstanding challenge in optical metrology has been combining fast surface measurement with precise feature measurement. TALOS AX uses two 24-megapixel cameras that capture images at 100 Hz, or up to 200 Hz in a fast-scan mode. It has a 500 mm wide measurement volume and four multidirectional feature flashes. According to ZEISS, these features allow the sensor to measure both large surfaces for geometry analysis and digital twins and precise features such as holes, edges, bolts and threads. A newly developed optical sensor supports full-field geometry acquisition and feature measurement within a single automated workflow, the company says.
Designed for production
The robot and system concept are designed to withstand typical production-environment influences including temperature variations, vibration and dust, according to ZEISS. Measurement tasks can be prepared offline from a CAD model, while ZEISS INSPECT software automatically calculates the required measurement positions and robot paths. ZEISS says this reduces the time and effort needed to plan new measurement tasks. One-click programming, efficient robot motion and a streamlined setup are intended to increase throughput and make more efficient use of measurement capacity. INSPECT also supports complete analyses, report generation and integration of measurement results into existing processes.
Target industries
ZEISS TALOS is designed for automotive, aerospace and commercial vehicle manufacturing applications, both near production lines and in dedicated measurement rooms. Supported applications include car bodies, hang-on parts, giga-casting parts, aerostructures, jet engines, truck cabins and weld seams. High-resolution measurement data is intended to help evaluate component quality and deviations. Virtual tools can be used to assess functional dimensions, gap sizes and flushness, for example in automotive assembly.