ZEISS Research & Quality Solutions has added ZEISS TALOS, a metrology robot intended for automated, high-volume inspection. The system combines robotic movement with metrology-grade measurement, and ZEISS says it achieves measurement uncertainty below 100 µm over a reach of 3.30 meters.
According to ZEISS, TALOS positions its sensor precisely and repeatably without external tracking systems or reference markers. That capability is aimed at medium-sized and large components, including areas that conventional line-of-sight systems struggle to reach. A newly developed optical sensor supports both full-field geometry capture and precise feature measurement in one automated workflow. ZEISS presents this as a way to reach areas that are difficult for conventional line-of-sight measurement systems.
Integrated hardware for automated measurement
The metrology robot ZEISS TALOS MR and compact blue-light sensor ZEISS TALOS AX form an integrated measurement unit. A metrology-grade ZEISS TALOS RT rotation table and the ZEISS TALOS Safeguard safety concept complement the system.
Dr. Jan Thesing, head of Business Unit 3D Optical Systems at ZEISS, described TALOS as a fundamental shift in automated metrology because metrological capabilities are integrated into the system while robotic speed, range and flexibility are retained.
One sensor for surfaces and features
Optical metrology has long faced difficulty combining fast surface measurement with precise feature measurement, ZEISS says. TALOS AX uses two 24-megapixel cameras that capture at 100 Hz, or up to 200 Hz in fast scan mode. It has a 500 mm wide measurement volume and four multidirectional feature flashes. According to ZEISS, this allows the system to measure large surfaces for geometry analysis and digital twins, as well as features such as holes, edges, bolts and threads.
Designed for production use
ZEISS says the robot and system concept are built to withstand temperature variations, vibration and dust. Measurement tasks can be prepared offline from a CAD model, while ZEISS INSPECT automatically calculates the required measurement positions and robot paths. ZEISS says this significantly reduces the time and effort needed to plan new measurement tasks. One-click programming, efficient robot motion and streamlined setup are intended to increase throughput and make better use of measurement capacity. INSPECT also supports complete analyses, report generation and integration of results into existing processes.
Target industries and applications
TALOS is designed for automotive, aerospace and commercial vehicle manufacturing, both near production and in dedicated measurement rooms. Applications include car bodies, hang-on parts, giga-casting parts, aerostructures, jet engines, truck cabins and weld seams. High-resolution measurement data is intended to help evaluate component quality and deviations. Virtual tools can assess functional dimensions, gap sizes and flushness, such as in automotive assembly. ZEISS is positioning TALOS for manufacturers seeking flexible automated inspection with metrology-grade accuracy.