Application image courtesy of Kreon Technologies.

For manufacturers working with older tooling, injection molds, stamping dies, fixtures and machined components, one problem appears again and again: what happens when the physical part still exists, but the original CAD model doesn't?

Schneider Electric encountered this challenge at its manufacturing facility in France. The maintenance team needed an accurate and productive method for digitizing existing tooling so critical components could be inspected, restored, reproduced and digitally archived.

Their solution combined a Kreon Ace+ portable measuring arm, Kreon Zephyr III 3D laser scanner and Geomagic Design X reverse engineering software.

For companies comparing Kreon measuring arms, FARO Arms, ROMER Arms, Hexagon Absolute Arms, portable CMM systems and industrial 3D inspection equipment, this application demonstrates the value of combining portable dimensional measurement with high-density 3D scanning.

Watch Kreon's Schneider Electric Application

The Problem: Maintaining Manufacturing Tooling Without CAD Data

Manufacturing facilities often have hundreds or even thousands of molds, dies, fixtures and legacy components that remain in production for decades. The physical tooling may still work perfectly even though its original CAD files have disappeared.

Engineering teams may encounter tooling where the original data is:

• Missing entirely
• Available only as older 2D drawings
• Saved in obsolete CAD formats
• Incomplete or inaccurate
• Different from the actual production tool after years of modifications

This becomes a serious problem when tooling is worn, damaged, modified or needs to be duplicated.

Instead of manually recreating complex geometry, 3D scanning allows engineers to digitize the actual physical tool and use that data as the foundation for inspection, reverse engineering, CAD reconstruction or manufacturing.

Schneider Electric's Kreon 3D Measurement Solution

Schneider Electric integrated a Kreon Ace+ measuring arm with a Kreon Zephyr III 3D scanner.

This combination gives technicians the flexibility to capture dense surface data through non-contact 3D scanning while also using tactile probing when individual precision measurements are required.

Kreon reports that the Zephyr III 50 provides extremely fine resolution for capturing details including edges, engravings and demanding mechanical geometry.

From Physical Tool to Digital CAD Model

Capturing a 3D scan is only the beginning. Once the tooling is digitized, the resulting measurement data can be converted into usable engineering geometry.

Software such as Geomagic Design X allows engineers to transform scan data into accurate CAD geometry while recognizing engineering features such as:

• Planes
• Cylinders
• Holes
• Radii
• Extrusions
• Revolves
• Freeform surfaces
• Complex contours

Engineers can compare reconstructed geometry directly against the original scan data to help validate the resulting CAD model.

Create a Digital Archive Before Your Tooling Fails

One of the most valuable applications of industrial 3D scanning is preventive digitization.

You don't have to wait until tooling is damaged before scanning it.

Manufacturers can scan critical assets while they are still in good operating condition, creating a digital archive that acts much like a virtual spare part.

Archived tooling geometry can support future:

• CNC machining
• Tool repair
• 3D printing
• Replacement tooling
• Reverse engineering
• Dimensional inspection
• CAD reconstruction
• Engineering modifications

At the Schneider Electric facility highlighted by Kreon, the maintenance teams manage more than 1,000 tools, making a productive digital measurement workflow particularly valuable.

Use 3D Scanning to Inspect Tool Wear and Dimensional Changes

Kreon measuring arms aren't limited to reverse engineering. They can also be used as portable dimensional inspection systems.

A mold, die, fixture or production component can be scanned and compared against nominal CAD data or previous measurement data.

This helps manufacturers evaluate:

• Tool wear
• Surface deformation
• Dimensional changes
• Damaged features
• Machining deviations
• Mold deterioration
• Fixture movement
• Production variation

Color comparison maps make dimensional differences easier to visualize, allowing engineers and quality teams to quickly identify potential problems.

Looking for a FARO Arm, ROMER Arm or Hexagon Measuring Arm Alternative?

Portable articulated measuring arms have long been used throughout aerospace, automotive, defense, machining, tooling and manufacturing.

Companies researching portable metrology systems may already be familiar with products and search terms such as:

• FARO Arm
• FARO Quantum Arm
• FARO ScanArm
• ROMER Arm
• Hexagon Absolute Arm
• Portable CMM
• Portable measuring arm
• Coordinate measuring arm
• 3D scanning arm
• Portable inspection equipment

Kreon provides another powerful option for manufacturers evaluating portable metrology equipment.

Kreon's ACE family supports both tactile probing and high-density 3D scanning configurations, allowing companies to build a system around their particular inspection, quality-control and reverse-engineering needs.

Kreon vs. FARO vs. ROMER / Hexagon Measuring Arms

There isn't one portable measuring arm that's ideal for every manufacturing application.

The better question is: What parts do you need to measure and what results do you need?

Important considerations include:

What Can You Do With a Kreon 3D Scanning Arm?

Need to Replace an Older FARO Arm or ROMER Arm?

Many manufacturers already have an older portable measuring arm in their quality department or tool room.

Over time those systems may require:

• Replacement or modernization
• Scanner upgrades
• Software upgrades
• Greater measurement volume
• Faster scanning
• Improved surface capture
• Additional reverse-engineering capabilities

If you're researching a FARO Arm replacement, ROMER Arm replacement, Hexagon measuring arm alternative, portable CMM replacement or new 3D scanning measuring arm, Rapid Scan 3D can help evaluate your application and compare available technologies.

Rapid Scan 3D — Kreon 3D Scanning & Metrology Solutions

Rapid Scan 3D provides professional 3D scanning, dimensional inspection, reverse engineering and portable metrology solutions for manufacturers throughout the United States.

Our team can help evaluate complete workflows involving:

• Kreon Measuring Arms
• Kreon ACE
• Kreon ACE+
• Kreon ACE Skyline
• Kreon Skyline scanners
• Kreon Zephyr III
• Portable CMM systems
• 3D laser scanners
• Geomagic Design X
• Geomagic Control X
• Reverse engineering
• Dimensional inspection
• CAD comparison
• First article inspection
• Mold inspection
• Tooling inspection

Whether you're buying your first portable measuring arm or replacing an existing FARO, ROMER or Hexagon system, Rapid Scan 3D can help determine which scanning and inspection workflow best fits your parts.

Have a Part You Need to Measure?

Send Rapid Scan 3D your part size, material, tolerances and application. Our team can help determine whether a Kreon measuring arm, portable CMM, laser scanner or another 3D inspection solution is the best fit.

562-912-3544   |   info@rapidscan3d.com

Application information and Schneider Electric case study referenced from Kreon Technologies. Rapid Scan 3D is an independent provider of professional 3D scanning, metrology, inspection and reverse-engineering solutions.

Source: Kreon Technologies — Schneider Electric Tooling Maintenance Case Study