Master3DGage with Verisurf Performs First-Article Inspection and Reporting

The third generation of Master3DGage, a portable rapid 3D inspection and reverse engineering product powered by Verisurf, is designed to increase efficiency, improve part quality and reduce scrap on the shop floor. The integrated hardware and software product delivers automated in-process inspection to the shop floor, providing first-article inspection and reporting in minutes, according to the company.

“Manufacturers can not only extend a 3D model-based workflow from CAD to CAM to computer aided inspection, but they can also reverse engineer parts into the 3D model-based process, thus improving quality, saving time and eliminating drawings,” says Austin Husted, the hardware product manager.

Verisurf’s 3D model-based inspection and reverse engineering suites are bundled with the latest portable coordinate measuring machine (CMM) technology. The CMM’s carbon fiber arm components are lightweight, with a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Hot swappable probes are automatically recognized when installed. Plus, an optional non-contact laser scanner is interchangeable with tactile probes, further expanding application flexibility.

The system is said to perform rapid inspection and reverse engineering using three-step processes: The system aligns the manufactured part to the 3D CAD model by probing the part to corresponding alignment targets; it inspects the part in real time by probing any surface or by following repeatable automated inspection plans; then it reports inspection results in industry-standard formats with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and color deviation maps for analysis.

For reverse engineering, the system can scan or probe complex profile surfaces or prismatic features including planes, cylinders, cones and spheres, or capture 2D features including lines, splines, circles and slots. Point cloud and STL mesh editing tools prepare large data sets for 3D mesh surfacing. In many cases, STL models can go straight to 3D printing, the company says. The system can then transform 3D point clouds and meshes into 3D NURB surfaces or solid models with MBD for precision manufacturing.