Your Guide to High Precision Metrology Services

Every manufacturing process produces variation. The level of variation depends on thehigh precision metrology services production process, the materials, the environment, and the standards for your industry. But what about the variation in measurement? Measurement systems can vary from measurement to measurement, or the results can vary from the true calibrated standard. A high-quality measurement system needs to be high in accuracy and high in precision. Keep reading to learn:

Precision vs. Accuracy
What is resolution in 3D scanning
What high precision metrology services ZEISS offers

Precision vs. Accuracy – How Does Metrology Relate to Accuracy?

In metrology, accuracy means providing a measurement reading close to the actual value or calibrated standard. Precision is how repeatable the measurements are and how close they are together. A measurement system can be accurate, precise, or a combination of both.

Below are the key differences between accuracy and precision:

• Accurate and Precise: When a measurement system is both accurate and precise, it will take readings that have a low degree of error and are reproducible.

• Accurate but not Precise: If a system is accurate but not precise, the readings are close to the true measurement, but the same part measured multiple times would yield different values (low reproducibility).

• Precise but not Accurate: A system that is precise but not accurate gives readings that are highly reproducible (giving the same result each time) but could be offset by a certain value or incorrect by a factor to the true reading.

• Not Accurate or Precise: A system that is not accurate or precise will take readings that are not close to the actual target values, and the readings will vary.

What is Resolution in 3D Scanning?

Resolution is the smallest increment on a measurement system's scale. For a ruler, this could be the 1/8-inch markings, or for a floor scale, 0.1 lbs. Resolution gives the level of detail that the equipment can provide in terms of results.

The resolution of a 3D scanner is described in terms of point spacing, defined as the minimum distance between two measurements. The smaller the distance between measurements, the greater the level of detail and precision possible. For example, ZEISS ATOS Q 12M has a point spacing down to 0.03mm or up to 12 million measurement points collected in a single pass over a surface.

But resolution has no bearing on the system's accuracy or precision.

A measurement system with a high degree of resolution can often be misunderstood as giving a more accurate or precise reading. For example, a system that reads dimensions down to the micron level certainly has a high resolution, but if its readings vary by multiple microns, meaning they cannot be reproduced, then it cannot be said to be precise. The system may be inaccurate if it is not in close agreement with a calibrated standard. Your measurement tool's resolution must be considered for your requirements, but it does not point directly to the accuracy or precision of the system.

What are the Various Types of Precision Metrology Services?

ZEISS offers several types of precision metrology services. Some include:

• 3D scanning and inspection: Customers can have their products or components scanned, either for trial purposes before investing in inspection equipment or for scanning results and dimensional analysis. This service is often used in high-tech manufacturing in which high precision and high tolerance specifications are required.

• Reverse Engineering and CAD modeling: Specific applications regularly require reverse engineering, such as legacy components, cast or molded components, or elements of a building or other non-fabricated components. Detailed 3D models can be provided quickly to allow customers to move forward with projects.

• 3D printing: Customers can forward 3D models and have components 3D printed and returned. This service is useful for rapid prototyping, trials or visual representation of components.

• Acceptance testing: First Article Acceptance and other aerospace, automotive and renewable energy industries require a Frist Article Inspection for highly critical components. Team ZEISS inspects, analyzes and returns reliable results and test reports quickly.

• Automation Services: For our customers utilizing our automated 3D scanning solutions, we offer a variety of automation services, including scripting. Our automation experts create scripting to execute measurement routines that optimize repeatability and reduce unnecessary repetitions to increase efficiency. Our scripting services include error-proofing, formatting for the final output of data and automating software tasks. To learn about our full range of automation services, contact us!

ZEISS high-tech 3D metrology solutions include handheld 3D scanners (such as the ZEISS T-SCAN hawk 2), stationary 3D scanners, semi-automated 3D scanners, and fully automated 3D scanners. Each system is optimally suited to return precision results with high reproducibility for different applications. Team ZEISS can help you select the right tool for the job.

Factors to Consider for your Application

Every application is different and presents unique challenges and requirements. Some of the key factors to consider before starting metrology services are:

• Part Size: Small, handheld components can be scanned using scanning booths to give the highest degree of resolution to component dimensions. However, larger components, such as aircraft and automobile components, can span many meters in length. ZEISS offers specialized automated 3D measurement cells, such as the ZEISS ScanBox Series, that excel in measuring these larger parts.

• Material: The material's color and transparency drive the specific equipment required. Generally, irregular shapes, contours or other intricate details are easily captured with a stationary 3D scanner, while high-volume parts with regular and flat shapes can be measured more quickly with an automated 3D scanner.

• Specific application requirements: The degree of precision for dimensional analysis or critical parts that must meet tight tolerances should be discussed when shopping for precision metrology services.

Hire Team ZEISS for High Precision Metrology Services

Team ZEISS has a network of precision metrology specialists who offer a range of 3D scanning services performed with accurate 3D metrology to ensure optimal precision in every project.