In select applications, the engineer needs to be able to create a single 3D height map of a target that is larger than the field of view of the sensor (or sensors). Multi-sensor networking is one way to achieve this result. And now there is a second option you can use to solve the challenge: surface stitching.

With this approach, multiple scans from a single sensor are combined to build a single, larger 3D surface to which the engineer can apply measurements.

Stitching capability offers a simple way to achieve a larger field of view with a single snapshot sensor. Stitching also provides a cost-efficient alternative to a multi-sensor inspection system, as it can achieve the same results using a single sensor and an XY motion system or robot.

Surface Stitch Tool

The Surface Stitch tool in Gocator® combines multiple scans from one sensor into a single 3D height map. This works by specifying the number of scans and their relative stitched position using any X, Y, Z angle or offset. The tool combines data from multiple snapshot frames and outputs the stitched result as a new surface.

The Stitch tool provides full 6DoF transformation per frame. Data is combined by overlapping and overwriting in sequence, with no averaging or blending.

Stitching Is Easy

This tool combines data based on user input of XYZ offsets and angles for each scan. The scan direction is automatically taken care of by the surface generation mode in Gocator®. This allows you to achieve a much larger scan from a sensor mounted to a robot, or from a sensor mounted above an X-Y table. The resulting 3D scan is then ready to use as input by any other tool requiring a surface to carry out advanced measurement.

Benefits to the user:

• Generate a new, stitched 3D height map
• Expand your sensor FOV while maintaining high resolution, without using multiple sensors (ideal for robot-mounted applications or XY stages)
• Enter X, Y, Z offsets, or X, Y, Z angle values (6DoF) to control stitch placement
• Achieve a highly accurate result with no blending or averaging

We hope you enjoyed this post! Stay tuned for more on the new surface measurement capabilities in Gocator® firmware 5.1.