Meta-Scout : 6D Seam Tracking

By projecting a unique pattern of five laser lines onto the work piece, the Meta-Scout Sensor is capable of determining all six degrees of freedom of a given part, i.e. X,Y, Z, A, B, C, co-ordinates where the latter three are the orientation angles between sensor head and work piece.  Sophisticated path planning software allows the precise following of a curved path to an accuracy of 0.1mm.  The ability to obtain this type of accuracy allows the Meta-Scout sensor to be used for laser welding applications of welding speeds of up to 20m/min.

  The system is used by major car and aero-space companies, where Scout equipment has been in use since the early 1990’s.

A butt with zero gap and no mismatch is the stumbling block for most laser sensors based on triangulation.  The height can be obtained, but the joint can no longer be resolved.  Not so for the Meta-Scout zero gap sensor.  The patented use of the structured light technique together with grey level vision analysis allows seam position, height and orientation of the work piece with respect to the tool to be determined.  

The recently re-designed Meta-Scout sensor has been in use for several years successfully in the demanding laser-hybrid welding process by one of the most prestigious car companies.

The Meta-Scout sensor system is a very accurate and resilient device, but a successful installation depends to a large extent on the robot controller to which the system interfaces.  Please check with Meta as to the suitability of your controller.  The zero gap option depends on the surface of the work piece and for some applications this feature may not work.  Please get in touch with our Meta-Scout team with regards to the suitability of your application.

Meta-Scout: 
Dr. Rudolf Letterer  rudolf.letterer@meta-scout.com +49 170 853 41 38
Dr. Wolfgang Kölbl  wolfgang.koelbl@meta-mvs.com +44 7818 097 007

Meta-Scout GmbH
Ohmstrasse 15
D-80802 München
Germany