Advanced probe made for measuring arms

In a strategic alliance with Renishaw, FARO Technologies has introduced an advanced probe for measurement arms that increases user productivity and confidence in results.

In a strategic alliance with Renishaw, FARO Technologies has introduced an advanced probe, the FARO Sensor, for measurement arms that increases user productivity and confidence in results.

"What makes the FARO SENSOR probe unique is that data is taken only when in contact with the part, unlike other probes that keep collecting points even when the hard probe leaves the work piece," said FARO President and CEO Jay Freeland.

"That causes rework and creates errors that have to be removed later.

The FARO Sensor eliminates that wasted effort - including the guesswork as to which points need to be deleted.

Users will know without a doubt that their measurements are more exact than ever".

Exclusively developed for the Quantum FaroArm, the FARO Sensor is a contact-sensing rigid probe that functions as three sensors in one to offer hard probe, touch trigger and scanning capability.

To operate, users simply guide the Sensor along the surface of the object to be measured.

Points are measured as soon as the probe contacts the surface, eliminating the need to press capture buttons, as with other probes.

The Quantum's laptop computer simultaneously illustrates the 3D measurements on-screen and records all of the data.

It creates a 3D 'blueprint' of a part or machine component, making it an all- in-one portable tool for performing inspections, tool certification, CAD-to-Part analysis, and reverse engineering.

Drawing on Renishaw's metrology expertise, the innovative sensing technology within the FARO Sensor also offers the following.

* Easy to use, significantly reducing complexity of the measuring process by minimizing operator influence.

* Designed for durability to endure day-to-day use in tough industrial environments.

* Equipped with a range of styli that allow it to accurately probe intricate and hard-to-reach features.

Along with the new Laser ScanArm V3, the FARO Sensor probe makes its world debut at the 2007 EuroMold Show in Frankfurt, Germany.

* About FARO - with more than 14,600 installations and 7,000 customers globally, FARO Technologies Incorporated designs, develops, and markets portable, computerized measurement devices and software used to create digital models - or to perform evaluations against an existing model - for anything requiring highly detailed 3D measurements, including part and assembly inspection, factory planning and asset documentation, as well as specialized applications ranging from surveying, recreating accident sites and crime scenes to digitally preserving historical sites.

FARO's technology increases productivity by dramatically reducing the amount of on-site measuring time, and the various industry-specific software packages enable users to process and present their results quickly and more effectively.

Principal products include the following.

* World's best-selling portable measurement arm - the FaroArm.

* The world's best-selling laser tracker - the FARO Laser Tracker.

* The FARO Laser ScanArm.

* FARO Laser Scanner LS.

* The FARO Gage, Gage-PLUS and PowerGAGE.

* The CAM2 family of advanced CAD-based measurement and reporting software.

FARO Technologies is ISO-9001 certified and ISO-17025 laboratory registered.

* About Renishaw - for over 30 years Renishaw, one of the world's leading metrology companies, has supplied products to manufacturing companies worldwide, all designed to increase productivity and improve product quality in a competitive manufacturing environment.

The company has a wide product range and a customer base across a broad spectrum of different industry sectors.

Renishaw was best known for its probe systems for co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and CNC machine tools, supplying many engineering companies in the sectors of aerospace, automotive and precision piece-part manufacture.

However the company has successfully diversified into other product areas, such as encoder systems for position feedback, dental CAD/CAM systems, laser calibration products for machine performance control, and Raman microscopes for spectral analysis of materials.

In the year to 30 June 2007, Renishaw generated revenue of GBP 180.9 million and profit before tax of GBP 32.7 million.

The Renishaw Group currently has 51 locations in 30 countries, with over 2,100 employees.

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