ZEISS Research & Quality Solutions has introduced ZEISS TALOS, a metrology robot intended for automated, high-volume inspection. The company says the system combines metrology-grade accuracy with robotic kinematics and delivers measurement uncertainty below 100 µm over a reach of 3.30 meters. It positions the sensor precisely and repeatably without external tracking systems or reference markers, allowing measurement of medium-sized and large components, including areas that are difficult to reach with conventional line-of-sight systems.
A newly developed optical sensor supports full-field geometry acquisition and precise feature measurement in a single automated workflow. The ZEISS TALOS MR metrology robot and compact ZEISS TALOS AX blue-light sensor form an integrated measurement unit, complemented by the ZEISS TALOS RT rotation table and ZEISS TALOS Safeguard safety concept. Dr. Jan Thesing, head of ZEISS's Business Unit 3D Optical Systems, said the system represents a fundamental shift in automated metrology because metrological capabilities are integrated directly into the system while robotic speed, range and flexibility are retained.
One sensor for surfaces and features
ZEISS says a longstanding challenge in optical metrology has been combining fast surface measurement with precise feature measurement. TALOS AX uses two 24-megapixel cameras to capture images at 100 Hz, or up to 200 Hz in fast scan mode. It has a 500 mm wide measurement volume and four multidirectional feature flashes. According to ZEISS, this allows measurement of large surfaces for geometry analysis and digital twins as well as precise features such as holes, edges, bolts and threads. The combination is presented as a way to cover large surfaces and small features within one setup.
Designed for production
The robot and system concept are designed to withstand temperature variations, vibration and dust. Measurement tasks can be prepared offline from a CAD model, and ZEISS INSPECT automatically calculates the required measurement positions and robot paths. ZEISS says this significantly reduces the time and effort needed to plan new measurement tasks. One-click programming, efficient robot motion and streamlined setup are intended to increase throughput and make more efficient use of measurement capacity. With INSPECT, users can perform complete analyses, generate reports and integrate measurement results into existing processes.
Target industries
ZEISS TALOS is designed for automotive, aerospace and commercial vehicle manufacturing, both near production and in dedicated measurement rooms. Applications include car bodies, hang-on parts, giga-casting parts, aerostructures, jet engines, truck cabins and weld seams. High-resolution measurement data is intended to support precise evaluation of component quality and deviations. Virtual tools can be used to assess functional dimensions, gap sizes and flushness, for example in automotive assembly.