Aberlink Broadens its CMM Horizons With Linear Motor Drives Aberlink has launched a new range of CNC bridge-style CMM. Utilizing linear motors, the HORIZON breaks new ground in CMM design. With an 800mm travel in the X axis, the Horizon completes Aberlink’s range of bridge CMMs and will further extend their horizon into the higher-performance CMM marketplace. The Horizon CMM is the culmination of Aberlink’s 27 years of CMM design innovation and in-house manufacturing technology. It sets new standards in performance, reliability and ease-of-use and yet is still offered with Aberlink’s traditional extremely competitive pricing. The frictionless linear motor drives are the key to its fast, exceptionally smooth and silent motion. With no wearing parts linear motors offer the perfect solution for CMM drives, not only improving reliability and reducing maintenance, but are ideal for fast contact scanning. The novel kinematic isolated drive system uses a tetrahedral arrangement of carbon fibre tubing to transfer the thrust from the motors through the centre of gravity of the moving parts. This drive system is completely independent of the CMM structure and not only avoids acceleration induced metrology errors but also has the effect of thermally isolating the linear motors from the metrology structure of the CMM. The optimised split Y-axis carriageway design derives all the metrology benefits of a high carriageway whilst providing all the convenience and ease of loading associated with a traditional bridge structure. Further clever design, and use of high-tech material technology, ensures that a non-homogenous X-beam optimises the stiffness-to-weight ratio along the entire axis. The Horizon is the most accurate machine produced to-date by Aberlink. When fitted with the Renishaw SP25M tactile scanning probe, the first-term accuracy statement per ISO 10360 is just 1.75um. The Horizon performs with a measuring accuracy of 1.9 + 0.4L/1000 μm, when using a Renishaw TP20 probe, incorporates 0.1 μm resolution scales, and has a granite table payload of 1000 kg. The CMM delivers with maximum vector speeds of 1020mm/sec and maximum vector accelerations of 1020mm/sec². Measuring volumes of the three Horizon models are 800 mm X 1000/1500/2000 mm Y and 600 mm Z. Should the CMM need to be housed in an uncontrolled environment, Aberlink’s automatic temperature compensation ensures that measurement results are reported as if measured at 20°C. For extremely small, flexible or 2D parts, Aberlink’s revolutionary camera system can be fitted to the Horizon. A clever design of magnetic, kinematic joint allows the probe and camera to be changed-out in just seconds. The Horizon will be supplied with Aberlink’s 3D measurement software. Widely regarded as the easiest to use software on the market, Aberlink 3D will construct a representation of a component on the screen as it is measured. Dimensions between measured features can then be selected on the screen appearing exactly as they do on the part drawing. The software incorporates GD & T dimensioning, RPS alignment and SPC data analysis.  Further modules are also available for off-line programming of parts from a CAD model and also for comparing measured results to the CAD. Automatic feature recognition means the ‘smart’ software works intelligently to minimise operator input and improve efficiency and measuring productivity. The simplicity of use allows even the most inexperienced of operators to use the the Horizon CMM with the minimum of training, whilst the software contains all the functionality to satisfy even the most demanding of metrology requirements. Aberlink CMM customers receive free-of-charge software upgrades for the life of their CMM. Technical Information: read more

Coordinate Metrology ‘Comes of Age’ To Pace Production Metrology News recently visited British CMM manufacturer Aberlink, renowned for its design innovations, to witness the physical launch of EXTOL, the world’s first CMM to utilize the delta mechanism. Located in a quintessentially English Cotswold country-side location, with close by neighbors of Renishaw and Dyson, innovation seems to be in the country air in these parts. Celebrating 27 years of business, Aberlink exports over 70% of its CMM production to all regions of the world. The delta mechanism is a common platform found in both robotics and 3D printer markets but, until now, has not ventured into the more traditional world of coordinate measuring machines. Designed for robustness and reliability, the Extol CMM can operate 24/7, making it ideal for production floor measurements whether, adjacent to a machine tool, in a manufacturing cell, or in a dedicated inspection area. At a price not much more that the cost of a motorized probe head, on a traditional cartesian bridge CMM, the EXTOL has been developed to deliver affordable coordinate metrology right at the point of production. Ergonomics of the new EXTOL CMM were a significant factor during the machine design process, ensuring the CMM is not only quick and easy to perform one-off inspections, but also has ample access for either batch inspection or to facilitate automatic part loading by robot or transportation system. The EXTOL can be positioned exactly where measurements are needed – on the production floor. Five temperature sensors, monitoring both the machine and ambient temperatures, ensure the EXTOL is capable of operating in uncontrolled manufacturing environments reporting measurements as though they had been performed at 20oC. The software warns should the rate of temperature change become greater than that typically conducive with reasonable metrology practice. Thinking Outside The Box The EXTOL delta design mechanism, delivers a cylindrical measuring volume of 370 mm (14.5″) diameter x 270 mm (10.6″) in height rather that the traditional orthogonal box measuring volume. The EXTOL’s, compact footprint, performs with a measuring accuracy of 2.6 + 0.4L/100 μm, incorporates 0.1 μm resolution scales, and has a more than ample granite table payload of 200 kg. Vertically mounted machine-tool linear guide-ways provide the measuring platform motion via thermally inert carbon fiber struts. Delta mechanisms are renowned for their repeatable motion with high acceleration and speed. The Extol CMM delivers with maximum vector speeds of 500mm/sec and maximum vector accelerations of 750mm/sec². Automatic tool offset correction for CNC machine-tools is available with the Aberlink 3D software, which compliments the manufacturing-floor attributes of the EXTOL perfectly, allowing for its utilization as part of a fully automated production process, in the midst of a manufacturing environment, providing closed-loop process control. Robust, accurate and reliable, the EXTOL CMM is the perfect solution to automatically verify part quality of critical components. In addition EXTOL offers: Sealed recirculating machine-tool proven bearings providing smooth motion and contamination immunity Directly coupled belt-drive system eliminates need for a gearbox and associated backlash issues Super-smooth motion enable long styli to be used without suffering vibration initiated false probe triggering Long-life strain gauge technology touch-probe with no lobing characteristics ( RenishawTP200B) Technical Information: read more