ZEISS Research & Quality Solutions (ZEISS RQS) has introduced ZEISS TALOS, a metrology robot intended for automated, high-volume inspection. The system combines what ZEISS describes as metrology-grade accuracy with the reach and flexibility of robotic kinematics. According to the company, it delivers measurement uncertainty below 100 µm over a reach of 3.30 meters.
ZEISS says TALOS positions its sensor precisely and repeatably without external tracking systems or reference markers. That design is intended to support reliable measurement of medium-sized and large components, including areas that are difficult to reach with conventional line-of-sight measurement systems. A newly developed optical sensor allows full-field geometry acquisition and precise feature measurement within one automated workflow, according to the company.
Integrated hardware and sensor design
The TALOS MR metrology robot and the compact TALOS AX blue-light sensor form an integrated measurement unit. ZEISS also lists the TALOS RT metrology-grade rotation table and the TALOS Safeguard safety concept as part of the system. Dr. Jan Thesing, head of ZEISS’s Business Unit 3D Optical Systems, described the launch as a shift in automated metrology: in ZEISS’s account, metrological capabilities are built into the system while the speed, range and flexibility of robotic kinematics are retained.
ZEISS says the TALOS AX sensor addresses a longstanding optical-metrology challenge: combining fast surface measurement with precise feature measurement. The sensor uses two 24-megapixel cameras and captures images at 100 Hz, or up to 200 Hz in a fast-scan mode. It has a 500 mm wide measurement volume and four multidirectional feature flashes. According to ZEISS, these features allow it to measure large surfaces for geometry analysis and digital twins as well as precise features such as holes, edges, bolts and threads.
Designed for production use
The robot and system concept are designed to withstand common production-environment influences, including temperature variations, vibration and dust. Measurement tasks can be prepared offline from the CAD model, and ZEISS INSPECT automatically calculates the required measurement positions and robot paths. ZEISS says this can significantly reduce the time and effort needed to plan new measurement tasks. One-click programming, robot motion and a streamlined setup are intended to increase throughput and make more efficient use of measurement capacity. ZEISS INSPECT also supports complete analyses, report generation and integration of measurement results into existing processes, according to the company.
Target applications
ZEISS TALOS is aimed at automotive, aerospace and commercial-vehicle manufacturing, both near production lines and in dedicated measurement rooms. The company lists applications including car bodies, hang-on parts, giga-casting parts, aerostructures, jet engines, truck cabins and weld seams. High-resolution measurement data is intended to help evaluate component quality and deviations, while virtual tools can assess functional dimensions, gap sizes and flushness, such as in automotive assembly.