Flexible automated process assurance through noncontact 3D measuring technology

"Flexible automated process assurance through noncontact 3D (three-dimensional) measuring technology" is a current topic of the production research at the DaimlerChrysler AG. The object of this article is to present the idea and application of a measuring robot with an optical 3D measuring sensor for measuring an object without contact. The measuring system works according to the principle of optical fringe projection. The advantages of the overall system are shown using a 100% inspection within a production process of work pieces as an example. These are manufactured with rapid technologies. For this purpose, an optical, surface-measuring 3D-sensor system was mounted on a standard industrial robot. In addition, the robot was equipped with a digital camera for setting photogrammetric marks for sensor navigation. Besides the introduction of the measuring system and the robot setup, the future possibilities of this innovation in process and production technology are to be presented.