BRIDGING THE GAP
Turnpike Controls does not just build automated systems. As a result of our continuous improvement maintenance programs, we are also capable of retrofitting existing systems with updated automation components.
This obviously brings some challenges with it. The biggest hurdle to overcome in many cases is that the system we are called upon to maintain comes without directions. The original CAD drawings may not exist either, so there is nothing to guide us on things like proper dimensions, clearances, and tolerances. If anything on the system is modified without the proper care, the result could be a disaster.
A recent project of ours involved retrofitting part of a robotic arm without any available CAD model to work from. It was essential for us to change the overall design while at the same time guaranteeing proper positions of the final products. Mounting brackets had to be reverse engineered, and sensor locations modified.
Enter Polyga’s H3 handheld 3D scanner.
The H3 scanner allows us to bridge the gap between mechanical installation and machine programming. Our retrofit design had to match the original footprint as closely as possible so that we would not be required to change the robot’s programming. 3D scanning the original robotic arm part gave us an extremely accurate dimensional model of the brackets we had to change, permitting us to make our modifications while keeping the original control program intact.
Reverse engineering can be costly and time-consuming without the right tools. Polyga’s H3 is super portable, easy to handle, captures 3D data in seconds, and allowing us to begin measuring and making modification predictions right away. It goes without saying that this saves huge amounts of time and money. Coupled with Polyga’s FlexScan3D software, the H3 is a potent tool in the engineer’s toolbox for producing accurate 3D models on your timetable.
