(Laser Design: Minneapolis, MN) -- Laser Design Inc., the leading supplier of 3D laser scanners for more than 25 years, has released its inspection-grade 3-D scanning system, the SURVEYOR Auto Gage 3D.

“The SURVEYOR Auto Gage 3D scanning system was developed to provide a totally automated, extremely easy to use 3-D inspection-grade system for either shop floor or office environments with accuracy to 25 microns [0.001 in.],” says C. Martin Schuster, president of Laser Design.

Two goals are realized with the Auto Gage 3D system: Complete high-speed part inspections in minutes and minimal operator training. “Geomagic software’s unique level of inspection automation has enabled Laser Design to facilitate entire-part 3-D inspections with ‘microwave oven’ push-button simplicity of use,” says Schuster. “Operator input is minimal, and training is fast, which means the Auto Gage 3D can be up and running in a very short timeframe. First-article part inspections, incoming part inspections, and sample part inspections on the shop floor can now be performed by machine attendant-level employees.”

The Auto Gage 3D system uses structured light-projection technology from one scanner head to capture all viewable surfaces of small- to medium-sized objects. With a work envelope of 6 in. x 6 in. x 4 in. (Auto Gage 4100) or 10 in. x 10 in. x 5 in. (Auto Gage 6100), the automated system is versatile enough for inspection and reverse-engineering applications, and speedy enough for factory-floor verification uses. The precise, system scans are accurate to +/– 0.001 in. (0.025 mm).

The built-in system PC provides full control for scanning and optional data processing. The system is preconfigured with one 3-D scanning head. The Auto Gage 3D requires only minimal training to perform scans with the one-button scan operation. Most parts do not require fixturing unless they are unstable in the desired orientation.

Typically scanned objects include small- to medium-sized parts made of plastic, metal, as well as rubber, and cast, molded, forged, and machined parts. Parts can be inspected quickly and efficiently because setups are saved as reusable templates. Items can be inspected and requalified in just hours, preventing downtime and costly delays with slow manual measurement methods. Extrusion profiles can be sample-inspected to ensure accuracy and uniformity. Data outputs include .STL, .OBJ, .PLY, and .ASC formats.

The digitized data can be processed further with optional meshing, surface modeling, color-error mapping, and inspection software from Laser Design’s solution partner, Geomagic. Fully automated inspection reports can be created, and reports comparing the scan data to CAD models can be immediately viewed by the operator to make a fast go/no go decision of shape verification.

For further information, contact Laser Design at (952) 884–9648 or request an online quote at http://www.laserdesign.com/contact_a.php.