Articulated Arm Coordinate Measuring Machine
The Hexagon RA8-6 Articulated Arm Coordinate Measuring Machine (AACMM or simply "portable CMM") represents the pinnacle of flexibility and portability in 3D metrology. With six or seven fully rotational joints mimicking the freedom of a human arm, the RA8-6 can be easily carried to the part-whether it's a massive assembly on the factory floor, a delicate artifact in a museum, or a prototype in a design studio-and take precise measurements wherever the probe can reach.
Constructed from lightweight, high-strength carbon fibre tubes, the arm is both rugged and easy to maneuver. Each rotary joint houses a precision angular encoder, and the arm's internal software (powered by dedicated electronics in the base) continuously calculates the 3D position of the probe tip in real-time through kinematic algorithms. The "RA8" series denotes a specific family known for its robustness and accuracy, with the "-6" likely indicating a 6-foot (or similar) measuring radius, providing a large spherical working volume.
It can be equipped with a vast array of probes and scanners. The standard hard probe is used for single-point measurement of features. More advanced versions include integrated laser line scanners that capture dense point clouds of complex surfaces at high speed, enabling reverse engineering, surface comparison, and detailed inspection. The arm is often paired with portable laser trackers for ultra-large-scale metrology, where the arm provides fine detail and the tracker provides overall scale and alignment.
Operation is intuitive. The operator simply moves the arm's probe to touch points of interest or sweeps the laser scanner over a surface. Data is instantly displayed on an attached tablet or laptop running software like PolyWorks or PC-DMIS. It requires no external power or tracking targets for basic operation, making it incredibly quick to set up.
The Hexagon RA8-6 is the ultimate problem-solver. It is indispensable for first-article inspection, tooling verification, assembly guidance (digital shimming), reverse engineering, and in-situ measurement of large parts that cannot be moved. Its versatility makes it a key tool in industries ranging from aerospace and automotive manufacturing to power generation, heavy equipment, and even film special effects.
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