Hamar Laser Instruments Surface Plate Calibration System Increases Repeatability

Hamar Laser Instruments Inc. releases its L-703SP surface plate calibration system. The L-703SP is a compact geometry laser-based calibration system that, according to the company, is repeatable, offers high resolution and accuracy, easy setup and training and fast data collection. Hamar’s R&D and field testing have shown that the L-703SP can reduce the time for calibrating surface plates by 30 to 60%.

During the design process, Hamar Laser worked with a calibration laboratory to find ways to improve the lab’s existing methods.

The L-703SP System is said to be 30 to 40% faster than electronic levels, more reliable and repeatable from one tech to the next. In addition, the L-703SP is set up directly on surface plates, intended for each line segment setup to be simpler than autocollimators and laser interferometers, which require floor mounting and touchy setups. This can result in 50 to 60% faster plate calibrations and does not require re-taking data if the laser beam is broken.

The L-703SP System uses Hamar Laser’s L-703S spindle and straightness laser and T-1297 three-axis wireless straightness target. Compact and lightweight, the custom laser is designed for high-resolution straightness applications, such as surface plates, machine-tool guideways and spindle axes. The T-1297 target features a super-linear, two-axis position-sensitive detector (PSD) with a resolution of 10 μin. (0.25 μm) and mechanical repeatability of ±10 μin. (±0.25 μm).

The L-703SP features the Windows-based Plane6 surface plate calibration software, which offers a three-step calibration procedure and built-in tolerance table that can speed setup and data-taking and generate a full-color report. The system also includes the A-703SP-LM laser mounting fixture, A-703SP-SE straight edge & ruler, A-1297-SP high-accuracy flatness-measuring base and A-703SP-SE-CLT corner and mid-point locating tool. The laser and target are powered by rechargeable batteries with 14+ hours of life and use Bluetooth wireless communication.

For resurfacing surface plates, the L-703SP also features the Lapping Spot-Checker, a time-saving feature that can enable users to spot-check the flatness of any line segment in the Moody plot without having to take data for the entire plate. This can save many hours when having to lap-in a plate that is out of calibration.