GapGun3 heads for finer things

Citation

(2006), "GapGun3 heads for finer things", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2006.12778aad.005

GapGun3 heads for finer things

GapGun3 heads for finer things

Keywords: Aerospace industry, Lasers

Third Dimension Software, the company behind the innovative laser measurement tool GapGun3, reports that it is launching a new head design for the hand held device, improving its performance for the measurement of fine feature detail for the aerospace industry.

The remodelling of GapGun3 replaces the standard 60 mm fixed width laser beam available on earlier models and introduces an adjustable width laser that can now be fine tuned to a width of just 15 mm, making it quicker and easier to take a series of measurements in close proximity to each other.

Explains managing director Tim Monks, “Visually it's a small innovation but one that we expect will have a big impact on the automotive production line”.

GapGun3 is already performing successfully in a wide range of applications in the aerospace industry where dimensional control is critical, in areas such as multi surface measurements of gap, flush, radii, rivets and other protrusions. The ability to reduce the laser width now reportedly makes it even easier and quicker to use in a number of key areas, particularly in the measurement and quality verification of fine detail trim.

The new head is launched with a selection of range finding, stand-off accessories, that can be used, if required, in some specialist applications, to align the laser head at an optimal measurement distance, some 45mm from the surface area.

However, the real strength of GapGun3 for most applications continues to be its ability to operate as a non-contact measurement device, believed to be the only one of its kind, using laser triangulation technology to take multiple calculations across complex geometries, over unpolished and galvanised metals, plastics, soft furnishings, glass and mirrored finishes. Bringing automation, speed and accuracy to multi surface measurements, the lightweight device achieves a tenfold increase in productivity over traditional mechanical methods and delivers dramatic improvements in repeatability and reproducibility figures, with results claimed to be within QS9000-MSA and six-sigma requirements for a wide variety of application.

Easily adapted between hand-held and robot mounted operation, GapGun3 has the functionality required to execute a wide range of measurement operations in just one single device, performing consistently without the need for frequent calibration. Wireless LAN communications provide up to 6 h of cordless operation within 50 m of the controller. GapGun3 is supported by enhanced statistical process control software enabling comprehensive planning, collection and analysis of measurement data.

Details available from: GapGun, Tel: +44 (0)117 3179293.