Non-contact measurement with FARO Edge ScanArm
FARO, leading provider of advanced 3D measuring technology, has recently been called upon by Unison in the installation of a comprehensive tube bending package for British Airways.
Unison supplied the all-inclusive solution based on a semi-manual bender with CNC control and a fully CNC all-electric model, to the Heathrow based aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility (MRO). This includes a FARO ScanArm that enables rapid-reverse engineering and uses laser and tactile measurement techniques to gain detailed and highly accurate 3D representations of tubes.
The loss of revenue resulting from the grounding of a modern aircraft can be astronomical. Therefore Unison's renowned tube bending capability, together with the multiple advantages gained through FARO’s precise measurement and reverse engineering competence will provide a vital solution for the repair and maintenance workshop.
The advanced FARO ScanArm combines all of the advantages of the FaroArm with the benefits of an accurate, hand-held laser scanner. Unlike other scanning systems, the ScanArm’s hard probe and the Laser Line Probe are able to digitise interchangeably without having to remove either component. Users can accurately measure prismatic features with the hard probe, then laser scan sections requiring larger volumes of data with one simple tool.
Tactile and non-contact measurements of tubes to obtain detailed and highly accurate 3D representations of tubes.
For the British Airways application, Unison configured a complete turnkey MRO package for tubular components. This approach will enable a quick and cost-effective repair of fluid lines on aircraft by reverse-engineering OEM parts and then accurately re-creating them in the workshop. The package covers tube sizes from a few millimetres up to 40 mm in diameter and accommodates the variety of materials used in this application, including stainless steel and titanium alloy.
“As FARO is a global leader within the field of portable, precise measurement and is a trusted Unison ‘partner’, we were delighted to include the company’s advanced ScanArm and software as part of this turnkey package,” Unison’s Managing Director, Alan Pickering, points. “The synergy between the ScanArm’s excellent reverse-engineering capability and Unison’s advanced tube bending machines, results in the perfect all-inclusive package. By assigning responsibility for the performance of the entire installation to Unison, British Airways can be confident that its tube fabrication requirements are fully met from the outset.”
