A new era for Scantech

Scantech, the 3D measurement company whose products include the SIMSCAN and TrackScan 3D scanning systems, is entering a new era.

Earlier in July, the company unveiled its brand-new corporate logo, a stylish new look that trades the company’s former black text for vivid blue and features an emblem consisting of four diamonds, two parallelograms, and a shield.

At the time of the logo’s unveiling, Scantech noted how its bold design embodied the company’s core values of “ambition, innovation, and achievement.” And those values were further demonstrated by the news that the company’s Calibration/Certification Laboratory Center had received the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation from CNAS (the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment).

That approval was a major development for Scantech. It means that its laboratory is now technically qualified to carry out traceable measurements and calibrations according to national specifications and international standards — a qualification applicable to Scantech’s handheld, global, composite, and tracking 3D scanners, as well as its automated 3D measurement systems.

Building on the success of the logo launch and CNAS accreditation, Scantech has now launched a brand-new, turnkey 3D measurement solution suitable for mass production.

Several AM-DESK systems with positioners. Source: Scantech

Overview of the Scantech AM-DESK

Scantech’s AM-DESK automated metrology 3D measurement station is a hardware platform for the automated batch inspection of manufactured parts.

Designed to reduce metrology workload and increase efficiency, the system physically consists of a tabletop-friendly base and a 3D scanner mounted on a collaborative robot. Under the hood, it consists of an intelligent control system, multiple servo-mechanisms, a safety system, a motion control system, measurement and analysis software, and statistical process control (SPC) batch analysis software. The station can also be paired with separate 3D measurement devices and robots.

The Scantech AM-DESK paired with a robotic arm and KSCAN 3D scanner. Source: Scantech

Suitable for on-site inspection in settings such as shop floors and labs, as well as more demanding environments with harsh conditions, the Scantech AM-DESK can achieve continuous 3D measurement with high precision. It can carry out non-contact and full-field inspections for parts up to 100 kilograms in weight (casting parts, molding parts, stamping parts, and beyond), as well as having the capacity for large batches, meaning it can be easily integrated into automated quality control processes for mass production.

Features of the AM-DESK include automatic calibration in unstable environments, automatic generation of inspection reports, and compatibility with a range of accessories, including various cobots, an entire fleet of Scantech 3D scanners, and a set of useful positioners to expand the cobot’s capabilities. These positioners support trays of varying sizes to which workpieces of different shapes and sizes can be mounted.

The Scantech AM-DESK system features an integrated calibration plate. Source: Scantech

Included with the AM-DESK is Scantech’s powerful and intuitive FlexScan software, which offers users a suite of 3D measurement tools, as well as multiple communication methods to support the functioning of collaborative robots. FlexScan is also compatible with robots from third-party manufacturers like KUKA, ABB, AUBO, FANUC, and YASKAWA.

How the AM-DESK facilitates rapid inspection

Everything about the Scantech AM-DESK is geared towards improving efficiency, all the way from opening the box to scanning the final part on a production line.

A turnkey solution that can be used by a range of users, the AM-DESK is surprisingly easy to get up and running. With a compact footprint and weighing just 75kg, the system can be set up on tabletops, mechanical platforms, and other locations without a large amount of manpower, also boasting a five-minute installation with connection to 110-220 V mains electricity. Furthermore, automatic calibration means measurement can begin immediately, even after changes in environment or temperature.

Once installed, the AM-DESK can drastically increase inspection efficiency. Powered by a programmable logic controller (PLC) and servo motors, the station provides one-click execution of programmable, automated measurements. The station’s sensor-equipped cobot then moves to pre-programmed positions according to the operators’ instructions.

Those instructions are easy to input, even for engineers and operators without a large amount of experience with such equipment. In fact, the AM-DESK’s intuitive interface allows the user to operate it without any specific robot programming skills.

The AM-DESK solution comes with Scantech’s FlexScan software. Source: Scantech

The AM-DESK isn’t limited to any particular type of part, either. It is suited to components with a wide range of geometries, finishes, and materials, including small-scale parts (partly thanks to its compatibility with easy-to-use positioners and trays, which can be quickly swapped out). Versatile functions of the station include color maps, geometric dimensioning and tolerance (GD&T) analysis, and dimensional measurements.

Finally, the AM-DESK meets the stringent safety requirements required in manufacturing, as shown by its European CE certification. Key safety features include serial arrangement for emergency stop, a buzzer to indicate potential dangers with lights and sounds, and controllable force distance. The station also supports 10-grade collision detection and sensor safety detection when paired with cobots.

The AM-DESK becomes Scantech’s third currently available automated metrology solution, following the AutoScan-T42 and AutoScan-K.

AM-DESK features at a glance:

  • One-click start
  • 5-minute installation
  • Safety features
  • Compatibility with various cobots and scanners
  • Automatic calibration
  • Automatic report generation
  • Accessories to suit different parts