Connecting the Leica ATS600

In Verisurf, you use the Leica Absolute Tracker Interface within the Device Setup to connect the ATS600.

1. Enter the IP address from the ATS600 Controller display in the Device IP Address field by selecting Edit and then Save when complete.

2. Go to the Windows Start menu;

1. Type Network Settings
2. Select View Network Connections
3. Select the Network Adaptor the ATS600 is connected to and right-click.
4. Select Properties from the speed menu.
5. Choose Internet Protocol Verison 4 (TCP/Ipv4).
6. Choose Properties
7. Select Use the following IP address and then enter the IP address, Subnet mask, and Default gateway as shown.

Device Controls – Measurement Parameters

Using Target Types that are Reflectors (RRR 1.5in, RFI, RRR 0.5in, BRR 1.5in., RRR 0.875 in, Custom Reflector), choose one of the following Stationary Point Modes.

Fast Point Mode – Typically achieves specified accuracy in a controlled environment.

Standard Point Mode – achieves specified accuracy.

Precise Point Mode – used for Sensor Checks and Compensations.

Continuous Time Parameters – Time Separation – the speed at which measurements are collected using a Reflector. Using  Milliseconds—10 milliseconds = 100 points/sec. 

Using Target Types that are Surface (used without an SMR):

Fast Point Mode – Typically achieves specified accuracy in a controlled environment.

Standard Point Mode – Achieves specified accuracy.

Precise Point Mode – used for Sensor Checks and Compensations.

Scan 

Area – This mode scans an area on an object created within the Overview Video Camera (OVC) window. 

Line - This mode is used to create Cross Lines or Linear lines.

Ring - provides a means to measure an entire arc about the Tracker. The Ring scan is defined only using a vertical angle (zero being straight upward and 90 degrees being straight outward from the tracker base) and a point/line spacing definition.

AOI Filter – The Angle of Incidence (AOI) Filter will exclude data recorded on a surface at a greater angle in degrees than the set value.

Signal Filter Strength – This filter can be set to "Off, Low, Medium, and High" settings and is based on a combination of broadening value and intensity.

Scanning Workflows – Using the Overview Camera

Using these workflows,  Alignments before the scanning process begins are optional. These Scanning methods allow you to collect Scanner data that you can later align, analyze, and report. To perform these types of Surface Scans, you use the Overhead Camera on the Tracker to define the scanning region.

To use the Overhead Camera;

1. Set the Target Type to Surface, and using the Measurement Parameter, enable Scan – Area, Line, or Ring.
2. Use the Show Camera Viewer toolbutton to start the  Overview Camera Dialog, where we will define the Region to scan and the Filter Settings.

Performing an Area or Line Scan

To define the Surface to scan, in the Device Controls, set the Target Type to Surface (number 1 above);

1. From the Device Controls dialog toolbar, select Show Camera Viewer.

2. Select Add Region.

3. Control the Camera view using the mouse; on the Settings toolbar, choose the Help button for a complete description of the Mouse controls for the Overview Camera.

4. In the Overview Camera dialog, verify Area Select is active and left-click in the graphics to define a polygon. Right-click to complete the Polygon or Escape to cancel.

 

5. Using the Point to Point Distance and Grow or Shrink Width, the Region (Area) is defined. Note a tighter grid (smaller value) results in a longer scan time.
6. Add additional Polygons within a region using the Add Polygon button if needed. Select a Polygon and press the green circle to toggle the Polygon between interior/exterior to define areas not to be scanned. These Polygons are added to the original definition.
7. When using Line Scan, the parameters available are for a Cross Line - Point to Point Distance, Line to Line Distance, and Line Width, as shown in the illustration below. For a Linear Line, only Point to point-to-point distance is available.
8. Add a Polyline within a Line using the Add Polyline button, and add new Polylines to the current PolyLine object.
9. When settings are complete, click the X in the upper right corner to save the parameter and close the dialog box. 

10. In the Measure Manager, select Point Measure.
11. In the Measurement Settings, set the Measurement Mode to Stationary Point.
12. Left mouse click on Trigger to begin the Scan.
13. Scanning will continue until the defined area is completed.

Ring Scan

Ring Scan will do multiple 360⁰ revolutions around the vertical axis of the Tracker, starting at a selected height and ending at the specified endpoint.

1. Enable Ring.
2. Move the Tracker Head to the desired Start location and click the Start V Ang button.
3. Then, manually move the Tracker Head to the desired Finish Location and click the End V Ang button.
4. You can then edit the Line and Point Spacing.
5. Once finished, click OK.

6. In the Measure Manager, select Point Measure; in the Measure Settings dialog, verify Save as Cloud is enabled and Stationary Point is selected, then click Trigger to start scanning.
7. Sit back and relax as this will Scan everything within the 360-degree View of the Tacker. The Point Density will determine the Time it takes to Scan.

Manually Define Scan Region and Use a Plan for Scanning 

This process allows the User to define the Region to Scan by manually moving the Laser and measuring 4 points or using an SMR to measure the 4 points. These 4 points will be used to control the perimeter of the scan process. Then, you can perform your scanning tasks using a Plan and Auto Inspect.

1. In the Measure Manager, select Point Measure; in the Measure Settings dialog box, choose Save as Cloud, and set the Measurement Mode to Stationary Point.
2. Manually move the SMR or Surface Point (manually steer the Tracker) to the first location for defining the Scan region and select Trigger. 
3. Continue to measure points to define the Region perimeter, and choose Done when complete.Once Measurement is complete, right-click on the Cloud, select Plan, and then Create Plan. 

4. A Plan is created in the Reports node of the Report Manager. 

5. Open the Plan using either Automate or the Report Manager right click on the Cloud and choose Change Measure Settings. 
6. Select Automated as the VDI Control, Build, and the Measurement Mode to Stationary Point in Measure Settings.

7. Right-click on the Cloud again and choose CMM Measure Settings.
8. Verify Scanning is Enabled; you can edit the Measuring Speed and Minimum Spacing from Point to Point. (Note: minimum spacing cannot be smaller than .5mm/ 0.0196in). 

9. Choose Auto Inspect from the Measure or Automate Manager toolbars to open the Auto Inspect Manager on the right side of the screen. 

10. During the Scan notice, the Data stays within the area the Manual Measurements determined.

Scanning using a CAD Model

A CAD model is required for this process as we use an Automate Plan that Auto Aligns the ATS600 to the part and then uses Surface points to control the Region of the Scans. 

Create the Plan and define the Auto Alignment

This process is typical regardless of the type of Surface Points that will be used to define the Scan region.

1. Go to the Automate Manager and select Create a New Plan.
2. Select Auto Align from the toolbar. 
3. Right-click on the Auto Align object in the tree and choose Create Target; here, you will add the preferred Target locations for the Auto Alignment.

Note – the Tracker must be able to see the Target without any line of sight interference. In these examples, 3 Targets would be used when measuring the sides. Station moves may be used anytime; see the Moving Device documentation in the Verisurf Docs folder on the Computer Desktop.

4. Once the Alignment is created, the Surface Points are added to the Plan. 

Define the Scan Region using Surface Points 

Using any Surface Points Tools allows you to define the Region for Scanning. 

Surface Grid

1. Click on the Surface Grid tool button, then move the cursor and click on the Cad Model where you want the Grid to be placed (Surface to be scanned).

Projection -  set to UV Number, set the Parameters to 2 for both U and V.

Flip UVs, Start, and Flip Path – used to change the start (green) and end (red) locations for the Scan.

Adjustments – adjust the Grid's location, size, and orientation using UV Shift, UV Offset, and Rotate UV. U and V Offset create a larger scan region in the example below.

2. Select Save As – Plan.
3. Choose Done to Save to the Plan and select other Regions for Scanning. Choose OK to Save to Plan and close the Surface Grid dialog. 

Dynamic Surface Point

This method allows you to select points individually using the cursor to define the Scan region, ideal for uniquely shaped objects.

1. From the Automate toolbar, select Dynamic Surface Point.
2. Using the cursor, select the start location for the Scan using a left mouse click, proceed to the following location, and repeat. Continue until the Region is defined. 

Note: this defines the outside of the Scan region.

3. Choose Done to Save to the Plan and select other Regions for Scanning. Choose OK to Save to Plan and close the Dynamic Surface Point dialog.

Curve to Surface Points

This method allows you to define the outer perimeter of a scan using CAD Curves, Lines, or Arcs.

1. Select the Curve to Surface Points toolbutton from the Automate toolbar to open the Wireframe Chaining dialog.
2. Select a Curve, Line, or Arc to set the outer perimeter for the Scan; all connected Curves, Lines, and Arcs are selected automatically.
3. Choose the Green check button to confirm your selection and open the Curve to Surface Points dialog. 

4. In the Curve to Surface Points dialog, choose to Save As – Plan.
5. Choose Done to Save to the Plan and select other Curves for Scanning. Choose OK to Save to Plan and close the Curve to Surface Point dialog. 

Verify the Measure Settings

1. Verify that the Measure Mode is set to Stationary Point by double-clicking on the Surface object in the Plan to open Measure Settings.

Run the Plan

1. Using the Automate or Measure Manager toolbar, open the Auto Inspect Manager.
2. Press Run and you will manually point the Tracker to the Auto Align Targets or use an SMR to guide the Tracker to the Target locations and measure.
3. Once Alignment is completed, Accept the results if they are within expected tolerances. 

4. The Tracker will then proceed to Scan within the defined Region automatically.
5. The scanning is done using the Inspect/Build mode; results will appear as measurements are taken. When defining the Region to measure, it is important to note that the larger the Region, the longer the Scanning process will be. 
6. Report the Results as required.