Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has announced the launch of PRESTO System – a modular suite of automated robotic inspection cells revolutionizing the landscape of 3D measurement for automotive and aerospace manufacturing. PRESTO System builds on the foundation of its turnkey PRESTO quality inspection cell to provide manufacturers a future-proof system that sets a new standard for scalable, versatile, and seamlessly integrated automated quality inspection.

PRESTO System configuration

PRESTO System empowers manufacturers to become more agile with automated robotic programming that enables a single quality control specialist to create, test and deploy robust robotic inspection in hours. The deployed cells are highly flexible and accessible to all levels of expertise – an operator can safely load and inspect one part then another simply by selecting the correct part to inspect from the control panel. At a time where skills shortages are impeding daily operations for many manufacturers, the integrated robotic system eliminates repetitive manual setup and calibration processes, enabling teams to work more effectively and focus on operational excellence and halving total inspection time compared other modern inspection technologies.

PRESTO System brings together industry-leading scanning technologies into one turnkey solution for faster, easier, and more accurate automated inspection:

• Hexagon’s best-in-class Absolute Scanner AS1 combined with absolute positioning from the Leica Absolute Tracker AT960 to provide unparalleled measurement efficiency and results – even in dynamic ambient light conditions near production lines.

• Blue laser line technology – PRESTO is the first Hexagon turnkey inspection cell to utilize the most advanced and intuitive method for capturing a rich and complete digital representation of both the key features and surfaces.
• SHINE technology that ensures effortless measurement of reflective surfaces, eliminating the need for part preparation.
• Sophisticated robotic automation software that utilizes a digital twin to simulate and program complete inspection programs offline, and to coordinate the real time execution of all processes for repeatable and uninterrupted operations.
• Full integration and coordination of all systems, from robotic actuation to metrology scanning, enabling near-line inspection at higher speeds, in total safety.

Manufacturers are seeking pervasive quality inspection, sampling more parts and more frequently across production and assembly. The unequivocal and valuable metrology data produced is fundamental to smart manufacturing. PRESTO System is agnostic so that manufacturers can easily integrate it with customer’s existing metrology and quality assurance software, acquiring rich, high-quality datasets that empower manufacturers to optimize quality and inform continuous process improvement. Users can easily develop feedback loops that inform their operations, by identifying key trends, predicting more accurate Out-Of-Tolerance (OOT) results, or addressing the root cause of non-conformances in any major Quality Management System (QMS) on the market.

The modularity of the PRESTO System provides flexible deployment, enabling manufacturers to rapidly scale their quality inspection capacity in alignment with their business needs. Once the first cell is deployed, additional modules can be added with short lead times and rapid installation. This scalability not only enhances operational agility – the standardized single-vendor solution also helps businesses to optimize their investment strategies by facilitating upgrades and enhancements rather than replacement.

PRESTO’s compliance with safety standards, like CE and UL, streamlines the replication process, allowing organizations to deploy the system rapidly and consistently across various regions. This ensures consistent performance and simplifies regulatory compliance for multinational corporations seeking to leverage robotic quality inspection capabilities on a global scale. Additionally, Hexagon’s global presence with native-language support in every continent guarantees seamless deployment and ongoing success, regardless of location.

PRESTO System comprises three ‘base’ models: the existing near-square 4.5m PRESTO M that uses one fixed laser tracker and 3D laser scanner; the 10m x 5.5m PRESTO L, with a mobile tracker and mobile scanner; and the 10m x 7.5m PRESTO XL that employs two mobile trackers and two mobile scanners. Multiple options are offered to adjust inspection performance to user experience and component size, with larger models having increased capacity to inspect a wider range of parts. Experienced quality and metrology professionals can use their preferred metrology software from Hexagon (PC-DMIS, Inspire) or other vendors to work with programs and data. The metrology data produced by deployments of the PRESTO System can be easily analyzed and shared with other desktop software and cloud applications through Hexagon’s open digital reality platform, Nexus.

About Hexagon

Hexagon is the global digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies provider.

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division provides solutions that use data from design and engineering, production and metrology to make manufacturing smarter. For more information, visit hexagon.com/mi.

Hexagon has approximately 24,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.2bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com.

SHEFFIELD, UK, May 1, 2024 – Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, B9Creations develop fast, professional DLP printers, including medical, dental and high-precision micro ranges. Since 2019 B9Creations have licensed the market-leading Polygonica software library to provide advanced mesh, slice and build processor operations, both on the printer’s HMI and in the B9Create CAM Software that is provided with the machines.

“After five years of cooperation we are of course very pleased to announce our relationship with B9Creations. In that time we’ve seen impressive growth in both B9’s technology and product offerings, along with their increased focus on important verticals such as medical and dental. Their wide usage of Polygonica and continuously advancing requirements of high-end AM help us keep Polygonica improving year after year. We look forward to completing our first decade of close cooperation,” said Dr Fenqiang Lin, managing director of MachineWorks.

Michael Joyce, the founder of B9Creations commented: “Since launching the B9 Core Series in 2017 our plan has always been to offer a full top-of-the-line solution to our customers, including materials, software and customisability. Software is of course critical in making additive manufacturing efficient and profitable and we were pleased to meet the Polygonica team at Formnext in 2018. We’ve now fifteen printer models and customers in more than seventy countries – I’m proud to see B9 grow into a global provider of additive solutions. Polygonica’s fast and robust mesh algorithms have been an important part of helping us achieve that.”

About B9Creations

B9Creations is a global provider of digital manufacturing technology and has become the industry leader in production, speed, and value. It is a leader in additive manufacturing, serving high-precision applications in fields ranging from healthcare to aerospace, prototyping, manufacturing, education, research, luxury goods and beyond. B9Creations serves customers from Johnson & Johnson to Hasbro, Stuller, Inc., Medtronic, Procter & Gamble and more, with certified dealers in nearly 70 countries around the world. B9Creations’ rapid growth trajectory has led the company to be recognized on Deloitte’s Fast 500 list of the fastest-growing companies in North America in 2019, Inc. Magazine’s annual Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies in 2020, and Financial Times’ list of the fastest-growing companies in the Americas in 2021.

For more information, visit www.b9c.com.

About MachineWorks Ltd

MachineWorks Ltd has been providing advanced 3D software engines to manufacturers and engineering software developers since 1994.

Polygonica is the leading engine for polygon-mesh modelling and is widely used in a range of markets, including CAD, CAM, CAE, and AM, along with medical, dental, EDA, metrology, AEC, geotechnical and other large capital asset industries.

MachineWorks is the leading toolkit for CNC simulation and verification and is supplied embedded within a wide range of brands from major machine tools and CNC controller manufacturers and CAM software vendors.

With over one hundred major OEM licensees, companies who integrate MachineWorks’ components into their software solutions include Dassault Systemes, Autodesk, Hexagon MI, ANSYS, Synopsys, AECOM, 3D Systems, Oqton, Stratasys, OpenMind, CAMBRIO, Xometry, Desktop Metal, Nexa3D, B9Creations, Velo3D, ETEC, Heidenhain, Okuma, DMG Mori, HCL, SolidCAM, Convergent Science, SimScale, Topsolid, ZWSoft, Diota, Theorem Solutions, Starrag, CASTOR, CADS Additive, Intech Additive Solutions, and Go2CAM.

For more information, visit www.machineworks.com and www.polygonica.com.

OPEN MIND has released hyperMILL version 2024. This makes the digital process chain even more efficient, from CAD data and CAM programming to optimized NC code.

hyperMILL TURNING Solutions: Turret support for lathes with one turret, one main spindle and Siemens control system

Previous versions of hyperMILL already offer a broad range of functions and strategies for turning, turn-milling and mill-turning. The key extension in hyperMILL TURNING Solutions is turret support for lathes. This also underscores OPEN MIND’s determination to push ahead with the integration of digital twins of machining centers: Lathes with one main spindle, one turret and a Siemens control system are now mapped with all tools true to the original machine with the help of hyperMILL VIRTUAL Machining. Users can conveniently equip the turret with turret holders and tools in the Virtual Machine machining planner and use the resulting setup for NC code simulation.

Reading Back Measuring Points

Another useful application of virtual machining technology is the reading back of measuring points. This means that users can use the 3D model of a component to see at a glance which measuring points are outside the tolerance. As a result, it becomes much easier to analyze inaccuracies and tool wear after milling and then compensate for these in the CAD/CAM system. Moreover, the hyperMILL SHOP Viewer makes this new function directly available on the machine tool.

Measuring points read back for improved quality and process control. The 3D model of the component shows at a glance which measuring points are outside the tolerance.

CAD for CAM

hyperMILL 2024 also offers various new features concerning ‘CAD for CAM.’ hyperMILL supports the import of PMI (Product Manufacturing Information) and MBD (Model-Based Definition) data in various formats such as STEP, CATIA V5, SOLIDWORKS, Creo and Siemens. Improved functions for surface modelling now allow users to generate surfaces from a large number of grid curves. Another important CAD innovation is an improved electrode creation strategy that now supports three-dimensional eroding.

CAD for CAM: hyperMILL supports the import of PMI and MBD data in various formats

5-Axis Path Correction

Comparable to the 3D radius correction to account for the tool wear or deflections, 5-axis path correction is now possible – initially for Heidenhain control systems. Vectors are written to the cutter contact point in the NC program to ensure precision correction on the machine control. The NC control uses these contact vectors to move the NC points by a defined adjustment value during machining.

Improved Machining Strategies

A new algorithm for rest material detection ensures automatic complete detection of all rest material areas in both 3D and 5-axis machining. The algorithms for calculating the trajectory have also been optimized. The cutting edge machining for punching tools 3D strategy has undergone several improvements. This includes the optimization of collision avoidance when performing machining based on a reference job. Machining is carried out collision-free as far as this is possible for the given tool clamping length. The ‘Soft overlap’ option makes it possible to smoothen the approach and retraction moves. A new algorithm also improves the toolpath calculation for 3D plane machining, resulting in even faster, more uniform and more tool-friendly machining.

In 3D machining (left) and 5-axis machining (right), new algorithms for rest material detection ensure that all rest material areas are automatically accounted for in full.

Safety in ‘Unmanned’ Production

To safeguard against long unattended machining cycles, hyperMILL now allows tool breakage monitoring to be activated in the tool database to make it part of the machining program. This information is processed during NC generation on the virtual machine. The generated NC program includes the corresponding control macro call.

Tool Synchronization with the Hummingbird MES

In the new version, tools from the hyperMILL tool database can be synchronized with the Hummingbird MES at the touch of a button. This means that tools used for CAM programming are automatically transferred to the Hummingbird tool management system. All other processes such as machine setup, measuring, tracking and the use of tools in machines are mapped in the Hummingbird MES, thus ensuring a consistent exchange of information within the company.

Strong for the Future: CAD for CAM Technologies Under a Single Name

OPEN MIND has always been known for its pioneering CAD/CAM solution, which seamlessly combines CAD functionalities with CAM programming. Bringing these two sides closely together results in considerable time savings in workpiece processing and shows that CAM without CAD is no longer viable today. To make this even clearer, hyperMILL will combine CAD and CAM under a single name from version 2024 onward.

For more information about OPEN MIND, visit website.

InnovMetric announces the launch of PolyWorks 2024. This enterprise solution sets up a digital thread that lowers the cost of scaling up the use of 3D measurement data by deploying a universal 3D metrology platform and delivering 3D measurement data to engineering and manufacturing teams in real-time. The PolyWorks digital ecosystem accelerates the design, development, and validation of products and manufacturing processes. It also controls the quality of individual pieces and assembled products, and helps resolve manufacturing issues as soon as they occur.

This new PolyWorks release significantly lowers the costs related to learning and operating 3D metrology software, managing large point cloud data files, and leveraging 3D measurement data within third-party reporting and analysis solutions:

• The user interfaces of the PolyWorks universal 3D metrology platform have been re-engineered to let users perform inspection tasks and discover new tools intuitively, access frequently used tools more directly, and quickly find the functionalities that apply to selected objects. PolyWorks 2024 allows new users to learn and master basic workflows more easily, while seasoned users can strengthen their skills by exploring new tools at their fingertips.
• PolyWorks 2024 can manage vast amounts of 3D measurement data efficiently by using cloud storage, which is cost effective and delivers benefits such as instantaneous storage space increase and data file replication across multiple data centers.
• PolyWorks now offers plug-ins that interconnect its data management system to the Excel and Power BI industry-standard reporting and analysis solutions from Microsoft. Manufacturing organizations will appreciate the simplicity of being able to rapidly inject smart 3D inspection data into their favorite reporting tool, instead of having to train their internal experts at considerable cost on a third-party solution.

Universal platform enhancements

The PolyWorks|Inspector solution helps reduce time-to-market by measuring, controlling, and analyzing 3D dimensions at every stage of the manufacturing process. With version 2024, InnovMetric delivers major gains in efficiency through its re-engineered user interfaces. Users can now:

• Perform inspection tasks and discover new tools intuitively, thanks to a new ribbon menu and an improved interface widget organization that offers a more logical workflow
• Access frequently used tools more directly, thereby reducing mouse movements and clicks
• Quickly find the functionalities that apply to selected objects by accessing a contextual tab or a simplified contextual menu

PolyWorks|Inspector 2024 also offers new high-value tools and workflows:

• Surface datum features within datum reference frames
• Contextual control views to analyze surface deviations in multiple alignments and inspect dimensional controls in multiple coordinate systems
• CADless inspection workflows on CNC CMMs

Characteristic augmenters in 3D measurement plans

The PolyWorks|PMI+Loop Model-Based Definition solution allows manufacturing organizations to manage all the dimensional controls defined by the design and manufacturing teams within their native CAD platform. Version 2024 lets users add specialized supplemental information to characteristics, such as criticality classifications, quality plan requirements, and revision numbers. Once defined within their CAD platform, characteristic augmenters may then be consumed by downstream applications, such as PolyWorks|Inspector.

Full benefits of cloud storage and improved security policies

The PolyWorks|DataLoop data management solution stores 3D measurement data on central servers and digitally interconnects all the people who capture or need access to 3D measurement information. Version 2024 now leverages the full benefits of cloud storage. Manufacturing organizations can:

• Set up a highly scalable infrastructure that adapts instantaneously to storage needs
• Replicate data files automatically across multiple data centers to ensure reliability
• Deploy a cost-effective storage solution without compromise

Security policies allow manufacturing organizations to control who has access to data and what can be done with it. Version 2024 allows PolyWorks|DataLoop users to:

• Implement sound data access policies by assigning distinct storage spaces to different departments, business areas, or external suppliers
• Define security policies efficiently by creating new policies from existing ones and enriching them with specific permissions

Expanding Web-based views of the 3D measurement database

The PolyWorks|DataLoop Web interface allows users to review 3D measurement results within a standard Web browser through an extensive set of standard and special-purpose widgets. With version 2024, users can now:

• Display the 3D measurement results of one or multiple pieces horizontally
• Create an unlimited number of widgets within a dashboard
• Leverage Excel’s extensive mathematical and charting functionalities

Digital interconnections to industry-standard reporting and analysis solutions

PolyWorks|ReportLoop is an interoperability solution that integrates inspection data into Microsoft Excel for reporting and advanced analysis. Version 2024 now allows manufacturing organizations to interconnect their PolyWorks|DataLoop server to Excel. Users have access to a search engine to quickly find sources of data plus user-friendly tools to inject smart 3D inspection data into their spreadsheets. Excel spreadsheet cells remain dynamically linked to the data they contain through formulas.

Version 2024 also marks the debut of a new PolyWorks|ReportLoop for Power BI solution. PolyWorks’ Power BI connector allows retrieving data from a PolyWorks|DataLoop server and leveraging the query editor to process the imported data and display it using Power BI’s powerful visualization tools.

About InnovMetric

InnovMetric is an independent software development company that empowers manufacturers of every size to digitally transform their 3D measurement processes. Now celebrating its 30th year in business, InnovMetric has revolutionized 3D metrology with the introduction of point-cloud-based dimensional inspection in 2000 and the concept of a universal 3D metrology software platform in 2006. Today, with over 20,400 customers in 100 countries, and the world’s largest industrial manufacturers having adopted its PolyWorks solutions as their standard 3D metrology software platform, InnovMetric is focusing on creating next-generation digital data and process management technologies. Headquartered in Quebec City, Canada, InnovMetric is a multinational organization with 550 employees dedicated to bringing 3D measurement data at the heart of enterprise manufacturing processes.

For more information, visit innovmetric.com.