Software Tips & Tricks

FaroArm
September 2010

INVESTIGATING LARGE MEASUREMENT VOLUMES SIMPLY AND

ACCURATELY WITH POLYWORKS AND THE FAROARM

It is sometimes necessary to carry out measurements from several positions in order to check
larger components. The measuring software used for this task faces the challenge of greater
measuring errors. For example, in what is known as the leap-frog process, measuring error
accumulates with every repositioning of the digitising system. PolyWorks offers an excellent
solution through its flexible device position management in combination with the FaroArm.
Using algorithms for bundle adjustment, the errors arising in the leap-frog process are evenly
distributed across the individual positions.

Device position change using targets

To carry out a change of position for the FaroArm,

targets are measured from several positions and in this
way the transformation is defined for the new device
position.

Either at least 3 point reducible geometries (sphere,

circle, point) must be probed as targets, or features
already in existence must be used.

Menu: Align Device Positions Create targets

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Software Tips & Tricks
FaroArm
September 2010

After the targets have been generated, a new device position can be created in relationship
to these targets.

Menu: Align Device positions Create device positions

The targets created in the first position must now also be

measured from the second position. As soon as at least
three pairs of targets have been assigned to one
another, the new device position is transformed into the
current coordinate system. Further measurement data
can now be calculated. The creation of new device
positions can be repeated as often as necessary. In this
way, it is possible to extend the measuring capacity of
the FaroArm quite literally to infinity.

For position changes that have been carried out under

a variety of temperature conditions, a temperature
compensation function is available in PolyWorks.

OPTIMISED ERROR DISTRIBUTION WHEN MEASURING FROM SEVERAL DEVICE POSITIONS: BUNDLE
ADJUSTMENT

The more positions that are aligned in relation to one another, the more systematic deviations
will accumulate from position to position. In order to counteract this, real-time bundle
adjustment can be enabled in PolyWorks and appropriate calculation parameters can be
defined. The target coordinates for all device positions are automatically adjusted and
individual deviations distributed across all the positions.

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Software Tips & Tricks
FaroArm
September 2010

Menu: Tools Options Device Positions

In the case of calculation parameters, a distinction is made between the uniform accuracy
model and range and angle accuracy, with the latter being used exclusively for laser tracker
measurements, in which a single target is measured.

In the Device Positions and Targets window the appropriate accuracy model can be
specified for the individual positions. It is also possible to freeze individual positions, i.e. to lock
them for the adjustment of target coordinates.

FARO Customer Service:

Freecall: +800 3276 7378

E-mail: support@faroeurope.com

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