ZEISS Research & Quality Solutions has introduced ZEISS TALOS, a metrology robot designed for automated, high-volume inspection. The system combines a robot arm with optical measurement hardware and software for medium-sized and large components. ZEISS says the configuration achieves measurement uncertainty below 100 µm over a reach of 3.30 meters.
The robot positions the optical sensor without external tracking systems or reference markers, according to the company. ZEISS says this supports repeatable measurement in areas that conventional line-of-sight systems struggle to reach. The product is therefore presented as a way to bring metrology-grade accuracy into robotic kinematics, rather than treating robot motion and precision measurement as separate operations.
Integrated hardware
The core package includes the TALOS MR metrology robot and the TALOS AX compact blue-light sensor, which form an integrated measurement unit. ZEISS complements them with the TALOS RT rotation table and the TALOS Safeguard safety concept. Dr. Jan Thesing, head of ZEISS’s Business Unit 3D Optical Systems, says TALOS integrates metrological capabilities directly into the system while retaining the speed, range and flexibility of robotic kinematics.
One sensor for surfaces and features
Combining fast surface measurement with precise feature measurement has been a longstanding challenge in optical metrology. ZEISS says the TALOS AX sensor uses two 24-megapixel cameras that capture images at 100 Hz, or up to 200 Hz in a fast-scan mode. A 500 mm wide measurement volume and four multidirectional feature flashes are intended to allow one automated workflow to record large surfaces for geometry analysis and digital twins, as well as features such as holes, edges, bolts and threads.
Production-oriented workflow
ZEISS says the robot and system concept are built to withstand common production influences, including temperature variation, vibration and dust. Measurement tasks can be prepared offline using a CAD model, while ZEISS INSPECT calculates the required measurement positions and robot paths. According to the company, this reduces the time and effort needed to plan new tasks. One-click programming, efficient robot motion and a streamlined setup are intended to raise throughput and make better use of measurement capacity. INSPECT also supports complete analysis, report generation and integration of results into existing processes.
Target applications
TALOS is aimed at automotive, aerospace and commercial vehicle manufacturing, both near production and in dedicated measurement rooms. ZEISS lists car bodies, hang-on parts, giga-casting parts, aerostructures, jet engines, truck cabins and weld seams among the applications. High-resolution measurement data is intended to help evaluate component quality and deviations. In automotive assembly, for example, virtual tools can be used to assess functional dimensions, gap sizes and flushness.