News

KONICA MINOLTA RANGE5, Non-Contact 3D Digitizer
offering the same accuracy and functions as our flagship model
but at a lower price for specialized applications

June 3, 2009

Konica Minolta Sensing, Inc. (Headquarters: Sakai, Osaka, JAPAN; President: Toshihiko Karasaki; hereinafter referred to as “Konica Minolta”) is proud to announce that the Non-Contact 3D Digitizer KONICA MINOLTA RANGE5, an instrument for high-accuracy measurements of the three-dimensional shape of subjects such as forged or cast parts, sheet-metal parts, plastic parts, molds, etc. will be introduced for worldwide sales in the latter part of June 2009.

The new KONICA MINOLTA RANGE5, while maintaining the same high accuracy and functions as the KONICA MINOLTA RANGE7, is equipped with the optimum lens for work with sizes of 500 to 1000mm to greatly reduce the system implementation cost to around US$90,000. Since metallic gloss surfaces or dark surfaces can be measured without spray^*2, there is no need for pre-measurement surface treatments or post-measurement cleaning, which dramatically improves work efficiency while also reducing environmental loads by eliminating sprays and cleaning fluids. Of course, all units are inspected according to VDI/VDE 2634 Part 2^*3, ensuring the high reliability demanded in a wide range of industrial applications.

A calibration certificate is also provided with the KONICA MINOLTA RANGE5, providing traceability and proof of the high accuracy which the unit has achieved in testing.

Konica Minolta continues to develop precise sensing technology and applications in order to offer solutions matching customer needs and to maintain our status as “essential” for customers.

Main Features of Non-Contact 3D Digitizer KONICA MINOLTA RANGE5

1. High precision guaranteed by accuracy inspection by ball-bar method (according to VDI/VDE 2634)

The employment of testing methods utilizing ball bars^*4 is being studied for inclusion in the proposed Japanese Industrial Standards for testing of optical non-contact CMM (coordinate measuring machines). Konica Minolta performs testing on all KONICA MINOLTA RANGE5 units using a ball bar calibrated by AIST^*7 based on VDI/VDE 2634 Part 2^*3. In addition to providing an easy-to-understand indication of accuracy^*6, by performing this strict test on each individual unit, high accuracy of ±80µm is guaranteed.

2. No spraying needed even for glossy surfaces or dark surfaces

Utilizing our original data-processing technology, we have developed functions that enable measurement of glossy surfaces*2 without anti-reflection sprays and the industry’s highest capability for measuring dark surfaces^*2 with ultra-low reflectances as low as 2.5%^*1 without the need for sprays or a darkroom. Since no spray is necessary, measuring inaccuracies due to uneven spray thicknesses are eliminated. Thus, there is no need for pre-measurement surface treatments or post-measurement cleaning, which dramatically improves work efficiency while also reducing environmental loads by eliminating sprays and cleaning fluids.
In addition, since measurements can be performed in a normal office environment^*8, work can be performed in normal working environments. There is no need for preparing a darkroom or special measurement environment, so there is virtually no need for additional investment in supplementary equipment.

3. Lightweight (approx. 6.7kg) design provides superior operating characteristics.

The camera and controller are integrated into a single body with a total weight of only approximately 6.7kg, which can be easily connected to a computer using a USB cable. Its light weight makes repeated measurements simple, and anyone can carry it and set it up. In addition, the KONICA MINOLTA RANGE5 can also be mounted on a measurement stand designed by Konica Minolta to provide simple setup and handling for multiple measurements from various angles, greatly reducing the overall work time for measurements.

4. Included software handles large volumes of data at high speed

Konica Minolta RANGE VIEWER software, included as a standard accessory with KONICA MINOLTA RANGE5 and RANGE7, is 3D data-processing software that provides seamless scanning operations and scan data editing operations. In conjunction with the introduction of the KONICA MINOLTA RANGE5, the software has been updated with the following improvements:

• Addition of function to read marker coordinate values from external system such as layout machine or photogrammetry
  system.This enables high-accuracy measurement of subjects as large as around 2m.
• Data-reduction algorithm improves operating characteristics for large volumes of data.
• Improved noise-reduction algorithm provides improved surface quality.

Measurement example: Previous RANGE VIEWER	Measurement example: New RANGE VIEWER

*1

Reflectance at 660nm excluding specular reflectance. Based on Konica Minolta standard (Typ.) measurement conditions.

*2

Although it has been greatly improved compare to our previous instruments, there is no guarantee that the RANGE7 can measure all dark surfaces or metallic gloss surfaces without spraying. Whether or not treatment of the surface prior to measurement is necessary depends on actual use conditions.

*3

VDI/VDE 2634: Optical 3D-Measuring Systems testing guidelines issued by Germany in 2002

*4

Ball bar: Equipment for evaluation of accuracy, consisting of a bar to which balls have been attached at both ends

*5

“Resolution Characterization of 3D cameras", IS&T/SPIE Electronic Imaging - 3D Imaging Metrology DOI: 10.1117/12.805735

*6

Accuracy: Measuring instrument accuracy expressing the error limits under defined conditions

*7

AIST (Japanese National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology): An administrative agency under the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry established to establish measurement standards, conduct research in fundamental industrial technology or research toward the creation of new industries, and to disseminate the results of such research

*8

500 lx or less

Specifications of Non-Contact 3D Digitizer KONICA MINOLTA RANGE5

*A

When measuring distance between 2 balls for a ball bar as defined in VDI/VDE 2634-2 under Konica Minolta measurement conditions
Konica Minolta measurement conditions: Temperature: 20±1°C; Measurement distance: 450mm; Warmup: 20 min.; Software used: Konica Minolta processing software; After calibration of instrument; Measurement subject: Konica Minolta standard (2 balls); Arrangement of measurement subject: Konica Minolta standard arrangement (10 locations inside measurement space); Uncertainty of standard not included

*B

Measurement conditions: Temperature: 20±1°C; Measurement distance: 450mm; Warmup: 20 min.; Measurement subject: Konica Minolta standard planar chart; Software used: Konica Minolta processing software; 1σ value