In conjunction with FARO’s CAM 2 Q and Polyworks Inspector software’s, this tool was a very versatile measurement device. Primarily, I would use the laser tracker in large format settings. It took time to setup and plan the measurement session so it was not an everyday tool for the type of work we did. The laser requires line of sight, and a line of sight to three known points in order to move and realign the tracker in the measuring session.
Our neighbor at my last job was a large foundry. On two separate occasions I had the opportunity to use the tracker at our neighbors facility setting up two large machines. The tracker and software could generate a perfectly level plane, and then I could measure and reference this plane to assist in making the machine level, flat and perpendicular to very close tolerances.
The most interesting application I used the tracker for is depicted in the last three photos of the gallery. The job was drilling some very close tolerance holes in an 8’ long carbon fiber rib for an aircraft fuselage. This was in a series of one of a kind prototype parts where there was no second chance, I had to get it right the first time. Upon verifying that the machine would be able to accurately position the holes, using the laser tracker, I found that it could not. So plan B was to effectively monitor the position of the machine relative to the part and manually manipulate the CNC program. Although this was time consuming and mentally challenging, it worked very well and the job was a success.
In conjunction with Polyworks Inspector and FARO CAM 2 Q software, this was my most often used piece of metrology equipment in the inspection room, next to a 1” gage block. It was very versatile and could quickly generate measurements comparing to a CAD model or in a free form measuring session. I also used it a fair amount to reverse engineer parts for repair and reproduction. We also had a FARO laser line probe, which could digitize an object. I learned the tricks to effectively capture the data, but unfortunately it was before my time of learning modeling software, so I didn’t get to learn the next steps of the process. The arm was a great tool, and it along with the software was the primary thing to help me learn the real world applications of GD&T.
One of my many job duties at my previous job was performing QA activities on completed parts. Ensuring and documenting compliance to customer specifications is just as important to me as the parts themselves. The experience I obtained checking parts, filling out the related documentation and communicating with the aerospace and nuclear companies we did work for was invaluable.
