Q: Is there anyone using a Faro arm for part layout or accurate work? Not your basic .002" stuff, but anyone got accuracy to use on part layout or aide in cmm program correlations. Trying to get away from surface plate layout.
...I used the Faro arms a couple of times about 3 years ago....repeatbility, precision, and accuracy were all quite poor....I'm guessing they've probably improved in 3 years though...typically the error was in the .003" - .004" range...just wasn't good enough...
Got the specs right here. Even Faro's best arm (Quantum Series 6ft length) has a volumetric accuracy of .0009" for a six axis model, and .0011" for a 7 axis, and for single point repeatability it's +/-.0006" on the six axis. The technology's getting better, but it's not there yet. The Romer Infinite 2.0 is roughly the same for the 6 axis model, and a little worse in the 7 axis.
We use our Romer's for part layouts on parts with +/-.010" tolerances and above only and leave the tight stuff (fixture layouts, more accurate parts) to the DCC machines.
thanks for the reply ...... we have a Faro we tried to improve on with software changes, but best use for repeats was on floor for press & broach die alignment checks. Sale people are suggesting newer software has improved repeat/accuracy greatly ....... I have a hard time even thinking none of the errors are in mechanics. thanks for info.
thanks for the reply ...... we have a Faro we tried to improve on with software changes, but best use for repeats was on floor for press & broach die alignment checks. Sale people are suggesting newer software has improved repeat/accuracy greatly ....... I have a hard time even thinking none of the errors are in mechanics. thanks for info.
Yeah, the accuracy isn't in the software, it's in the hardware. I mean, look at the thing. It is using (more or less) a disk that is MAYBE 6" in diameter to read the position of an arm that is, say, 6 feet long. Move the end of the arm 0.012:, the disk moves 0.001". HOW are they gonna make scales that can read that correctly? In order to read a 0.001" move, the disk must have encoder increments of 0.00008". ALL the errors are in the mechanics of the thing. Add into this multiple joints and there is a LOT of error stackup.
