Hexagon takes wraps off second generation Leica T-Scan

New TS50 is smaller, lighter and easier to handle

Hexagon Metrology has unveiled the latest incarnation of its high-speed, hand-held scanner, the Leica T-Scan

The next generation product - badged the TS50 - is 30 per cent smaller and weighs 20 per cent less and than its predecessor.

Improved ergonomics - which include an all-new handle design - make it easier and more comfortable to operate too.

Among other improvements is the inclusion of optimised marker positions for more accurate 6DoF (6 Degrees of Freedom) readings over the full range of scanner positions. The feature is designed to meet the needs of users with particularly difficult geometries to scan.

The robust and rapid Leica T-Scan TS50 also features 'instant temperature compensation' facilitating measurements in almost any environment, plus an all-new intuitive LED display on the reverse of the scanner. The read-out guarantees accurate distance-to-object data for optimal scanning.

Other class-leading features include:

• A measurement volume of up to 30m (98ft)
• A 'no surface-preparation required' capability and
• Tolerance of changing environmental light conditions

The new scanner works seamlessly with Leica’s T-Scan Collect 6.0 software - a package that facilitates the real-time transfer of data to point cloud inspection and reverse engineering programs such as Innovmetric's Polyworks V10.

"The T-Scan has consistently set the benchmark for high speed, large scale scanning since its introduction in 2005," said Hexagon Metrology UK sales and marketing manager, Gavin Bell. "At the time it was the world's only advanced large volume hand-held scanner for portable applications - and it still is.

"The good news for industry is: it's just got better."

"Not only is it still the most sophisticated scanner on the market, it's now also the most ergonomic. It doesn't need photogrammetric targets negating the need for additional processes such as the powder coating of surfaces. And, as before, it's impervious to changing environmental light.

"That's down to its technologically advanced laser beam which comprises individual dots, the intensity of which can be adjusted on-the-fly so surfaces of different reflective properties, from shiny to black, can be scanned in one step without the need for any operator adjustments.

"A great deal of effort has been expended on the development of the T-Scan Collect software as well," Bell added. "Point-cloud data is instantly usable for real-time, on-screen analysis. As a result, any discrepancies can be examined quickly by overlaying the actual scanned data over CAD data. It's also useable for reverse-engineering applications using packages such as Polyworks V10."

To date over 350 Leica T-Scan scanners have been sold and are in use in sectors ranging from automotive to shipbuilding and aerospace to Formula One.