µCMM Installed at Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre

The recently installed µCMM at the UK’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) represents a continuing partnership between Bruker Alicona and AMRC. With the new Bruker Alicona µCMM the centre now have 4 focus variation optical metrology systems and indicates their commitment to Optical Metrology.

Alicona measurement systems are based on Focus-Variation technology and combine the functionalities of a surface roughness measurement device and a form measurement system. Each Alicona measurement instrument is a surface measurement device, surface roughness measurement system, 3D measurement system for geometrical tolerancing and micro coordinate measurement system. The Focus-Variation technology combines the small depth of focus of an optical system with vertical scanning to provide topographical and color information from the variation of focus. The main component of the system is a precision optics containing various lens systems that can be equipped with different objectives, allowing measurements with different resolution.

When asked about the new system, the AMRC Metrology Manager, Richard James stated “We are very excited to have this state-of-the-art optical metrology system at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC). The capabilities of the system greatly enhance our metrology capability, the ability to measure vertical walls inside holes is going to be a game changer in our ‘One Way Assembly’ grand challenge research programme. We have had a long relationship with the Alicona products which have helped the AMRC in many research projects into advanced manufacturing techniques which are now in production environments. We look forward to continuing this collaboration with Bruker Alicona in the future”.

The µCMM, is the first purely optical CMM. It is used to measure extremely tight tolerances in high accuracy. Users combine the advantages of tactile coordinate measuring technology and optical surface measuring technology to measure the dimension, position, shape and roughness of components with only one sensor. The optical CMM offers high geometric accuracy of several optical 3D measurements in relation to each other, enabling the measurement of small surface details on large components and precisely determining the position of these individual measurements in relation to each other. The spectrum of measurable surfaces includes all common industrial materials and composites such as plastics, PCD, CFRP, ceramics, chrome, silicon. Simple operation is implemented by single-button solutions, automation and ergonomic control elements such as a specially designed controller.

For more information: www.alicona.com