Developments in 3D Metrology Selected from the 3D Metrology Conference

A special issue of Metrology (ISSN 2673-8244).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2024) | Viewed by 5593

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Interests: precise 3D measurement; primarily large volume metrology (LVM) requiring sub-millimetre measurements for the manufacture and assembly of large components
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Guest Editor
National Physical Laboratory, Teddington TW11 0LW, UK
Interests: metrology laser trackers micro thrust coordinate metrology
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Guest Editor
Department of Civil, University College London, London WC1E 6DE, UK
Interests: photogrammetry; 3D imaging; metrology; heritage recording
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Guest Editor
Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Interests: production metrology; networked, adaptive production; 5G applications in manufacturing; metrology-assisted robotics; assembly; production intelligence; quality management
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The 3D Metrology Conference (www.3dmc.events) was established as an annual European event in 2016. So far, apart from two online events due to COVID in 2020 and 2021, it has been held in Germany, the UK and Spain. The 2024 event will return to the UK at Loughborough University’s Intelligent Automation Centre. Despite our excellent university links, this conference is not a conventional academic event. Until the return to live events in November 2022, it offered only presentations and posters but no associated papers. The intention was, and remains to be, to encourage industrial end users of 3D metrology (3DM) technologies to present their applications and challenges in a relaxed environment where researchers and developers can also present novel solutions and new technologies relevant to 3D measurement and metrology. However, it was decided in 2022 to offer presenters the option of submitting related articles to our most recent media partner, MDPI’s Metrology. Therefore, this Special Issue showcases selected 3DM developments presented at the 2022, 2023 and 2024 conferences.

The conference intertwines application and development, which should help the industry benefit from developments that focus on real problems. The spectrum of technologies covered by the 3D Metrology Conference is centred on portable coordinate metrology in large-object manufacturing, e.g., with laser tracking and close-range photogrammetry, but it also embraces small-scale and sub-surface measurements at one end, e.g., with 3D microscopy and computed tomography, and construction challenges at the other, e.g., with long-range laser scanning and drone inspection. The conference further welcomes relevant input based on technologies such as motion capture and augmented reality, and new analysis techniques such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). This is a vibrant field where ideas can be exchanged across a wide spectrum. The cooperation between the conference and Metrology will provide another opportunity to encourage the further development and application of 3DM technologies.

Dr. Stephen Kyle
Prof. Ben Hughes
Prof. Dr. Stuart Robson
Prof. Dr. Robert Schmitt
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • portable coordinate metrology (PCM)
  • large-volume metrology (LVM)
  • close-range photogrammetry
  • laser tracking
  • 3D surface inspection (from area scanning to detailed roughness)
  • CMM technology advances
  • computed tomography (CT) for metrology applications
  • metrology-assisted manufacturing (e.g., machining, assembly)
  • robotic and automated PCM
  • point-cloud analysis
  • virtual metrology systems
  • metrology integration with digital twins
  • mixed robotic and human workspaces
  • multiple object tracking
  • 3D data analysis for quality maintenance

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2753 KiB  
Article
Application Scenarios of a Tactile Surface Roughness Measurement System for In Situ Measurement in Machine Tools
by Clemens Sulz and Friedrich Bleicher
Metrology 2023, 3(3), 280-291; https://doi.org/10.3390/metrology3030016 - 29 Jul 2023
Viewed by 2034
Abstract
The rate of automation in European industry is increasing continuously. In production metrology, the trend is shifting from measurement laboratories towards integration of metrology into the production process. Increasing levels of automation and the current skills shortage are driving demand for autonomous production [...] Read more.
The rate of automation in European industry is increasing continuously. In production metrology, the trend is shifting from measurement laboratories towards integration of metrology into the production process. Increasing levels of automation and the current skills shortage are driving demand for autonomous production systems. In this project, a roughness measurement system was developed that is fully integrated into machine tools and enables fully automatic roughness measurement of part surfaces during the machining process. Using a skidless measurement system, it was possible to obtained measured roughness values comparable to those obtained in measuring rooms under optimal conditions. The present paper shows the development process of the prototype and provides an overview of different application scenarios for in situ measurement of machine tools. In situ roughness measurement has high potential in the future of metrology in industrial applications. Not only can surfaces be measured directly in the process, sub-processes can be triggered based on the measured values, allowing the production process to react flexibly to actual conditions. Potential improvements in metrology and significant optimizations of the entire production chain are highlighted in this paper. Full article
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18 pages, 48435 KiB  
Article
Estimation of Measurement Uncertainty of the Real-Time Location System (RTLS) with Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Technology
by Alex Krummenauer, Victor Emmanuel de Oliveira Gomes and Vitor Camargo Nardelli
Metrology 2023, 3(2), 113-130; https://doi.org/10.3390/metrology3020007 - 24 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2557
Abstract
The need to control the real-time location of assets is increasingly relevant worldwide. The Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is an IoT solution for real-time locating systems (RTLS). The location of the asset is obtained by the signal exchange between a wireless tag (asset) and [...] Read more.
The need to control the real-time location of assets is increasingly relevant worldwide. The Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is an IoT solution for real-time locating systems (RTLS). The location of the asset is obtained by the signal exchange between a wireless tag (asset) and fixed anchors. The tag interacts with the fixed anchors, defining its position through the distances obtained by trilateration. This data is sent to the server through the gateway. It is well-known that this process has several sources of errors. However, the measurement uncertainty assessment of UWB technology is an important topic regarding its scope of use. This paper presents a task-specific measurement uncertainty evaluation for the UWB positioning system, according to the ISO GUM. It aims to propose a method to support decision-making regarding the possible uses of UWB technology. The position provided by the UWB is compared with reference points using Cartesian coordinates that are measured with a total station, providing metrological reliability. Using the information from the estimated uncertainty, one can define the minimum tolerance interval associated with UWB technology for a given use. A case study demonstrates the method. Full article
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