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ShapeGrabber® Incorporated Releases AI 800 Turbine Blade Inspector For Automated 3D Inspection Of Turbine Blades

System Provides Quick 3D Inspection of Turbine Blades to Verify Manufacturing Process or Establish Wear

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada – April 11, 2001 – ShapeGrabber® Incorporated announced today that it is unveiling the ShapeGrabber® AI 800, nicknamed the "Turbine Blade Inspector", at 2001 Quality Expo International (Booth 15118) in Rosemont, Illinois from April 24 to 27, 2001.

The "Turbine Blade Inspector" quickly (5 minutes) and accurately (better than 0.002" (50 microns)) inspects turbine blades in 3D.

Based on ShapeGrabber’s 3D Scanning System technology and equipped with the Company’s new high resolution, high accuracy SG-100 Scan Head, the AI 800 provides engine manufacturers, operators and overhaul shops with the ability to quickly determine whether the geometric shape of a turbine blade is within the defined tolerances.

In the context of the AI 800, the acronym "AI" stands for both "Auto Indexing" and "Automated Inspection". This reflects an automated inspection capability based on ShapeGrabber® laser scanning technology combined with an indexing turntable. A complete 3D image of the blade is created with a single "click".

An inspection routine, requiring only a few more "clicks", generates a color tolerance map based on a comparison of the 3D scan of the blade with a "reference object". Reference objects can be a CAD (Computer Aided Design) model, a "golden" part or the same part measured previously. Colors are based on the distance between points in the blade scan and the reference object.

The AI 800 is easily configured by the User to provide information in a useful and easily interpreted format. Based on the tolerance map, the operator can quickly make a "Go/No Go" decision by determining whether there are regions of the blade that are out of tolerance. This method of inspection takes significantly less time than traditional inspection methods.

A blade 10 inches (250mm) long with a 4 inch (100mm) chord can be inspected (scanned, error report generated) in approximately 5 minutes.

Accuracy of the AI 800 is better than 0.002" (50 microns).

ShapeGrabber® President, Marc Bisson stated "The AI 800 Turbine Blade Inspector provides a quick and accurate method of inspecting a component that has traditionally been time consuming and difficult to evaluate. During a recent beta test for a customer the time needed to measure a set of blades was reduced from 60 hours to less than 5 hours using the AI 800. In an aerospace environment the potential for return-on-investment is obvious".

About ShapeGrabber® Technology

ShapeGrabber® technology was designed for manufacturers and designers that need to rigorously inspect and develop complex parts in three dimensions. ShapeGrabber® systems include everything but the part, including the scanning head and platform, acquisition and inspection software, training and computer.

ShapeGrabber® system performance is highlighted by:

  • acquisition of over 150,000 points/second with patented laser scanning technology;
  • high resolution and accuracy;
  • a choice of scanning platforms enabling parts of virtually any size to be scanned;
  • user-friendly data acquisition; and
  • powerful, easy-to-use inspection software.

ShapeGrabber® customers include the Ford Research Laboratory, the Proton Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing Centre, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Navistar Corporation and the National Research Council of Canada.
About ShapeGrabber® Incorporated

ShapeGrabber® Incorporated is a wholly owned subsidiary of VITANA Corporation. It designs and manufactures 3D components and systems with which industrial clients can generate 3D models of "real-world" parts for inspection and reverse engineering applications. ShapeGrabber’s 3D components allow

Systems Integrators and Original Equipment Manufacturers to easily add 3D capabilities to their systems.

For more Information

ShapeGrabber® Incorporated
Marc Bisson, President
Tel: (613) 247-1707 Ext. 201, (866) SCANS3D
marc.bisson@shapegrabber.com

Copyright © 2008 ShapeGrabber