Hexconn announces the launch of a new modular 3D laser scanner designed specifically for large-scale surface inspection

The new Absolute Scanner AS1-XL adopts the same "Shine" technology as its flagship product Absolute Scanner AS1, allowing it to collect clean 3D data from the most challenging surface types at a very high speed.

The new scanner has a wider scanning line and is designed specifically for inspecting large surfaces and deep cavities in inspection applications such as aerospace panels, ship propellers, and large automotive castings.

The AS1-XL has an ultra wide scan line with a medium distance of 600mm. Combined with a point acquisition rate of 1.2 million points per second and a frame rate of 300Hz, it is an ideal choice for quickly scanning large surfaces without losing inspection details. The scanner also has an extended measurement interval of 700 millimeters, combined with its working range of 600 millimeters, which can achieve a hidden point measurement capability of up to one meter.

Even before the launch of AS1, we hoped to provide the same level of data collection quality and automation readiness in equipment focused on large-scale surface inspection, "said Daniel Moser, Product Director of Hexconn Laser Tracker.
We have seen through the previous generation of scanners that there is already a demand and application for specialized large scanning equipment in the market. With the help of AS1-XL, we are able to fulfill the promise of the large surface measurement concept in a more satisfactory way, thanks to our new scanning technology, which is ten times faster than the previous generation LAS-XL.

The proprietary intelligent exposure algorithm that makes up Hexagon Shine technology is key to the performance of AS1-XL, allowing it to digitize almost any material (including multiple surface types and color finishes) in a single scanning process without the need to adjust settings.

It is precisely this and the automation compatibility of the scanner that sets it apart from the previous generation handheld device LAS-XL. The high measurement speed and large isolation distance of AS1-XL make it an ideal choice for various automated detection tasks - the former enables scanners to keep up with modern robot technology rather than becoming a bottleneck in robot path speed, and the latter minimizes collision risk by not requiring robot paths to be so close to the inspection object.

Like the Absolute Scanner AS1, the AS1-XL adopts a modular concept design and is compatible with Hexagon's flagship laser tracker and portable measurement arm systems (Leica Absolute Tracker AT960 and Absolute Arm 7-axis, respectively).

The fast installation design and the shortest preheating time make the AS1 and AS1-XL a hot swappable combination, allowing users to quickly move back and forth between high-density detailed scanning and larger surface detection using a portable arm or laser tracker for immediate notification.

The Absolute Scanner AS1 has indeed been popular in the market since its launch in 2021, and we are pleased to be able to improve our 3D scanning tool kit for the portable measurement arm series with equally impressive devices in the AS1-XL, "said Anthony, Vianna, Product Director for Portable Measurement Arms at Hexagon.

Our Absolute Arm series provides market leading measurement volumes with diameters up to 4.5 meters, making it an ideal platform for large equipment such as AS1-XL. Even with our smaller diameter models, the extended isolation distance provides hidden area coverage that has opened up many previously difficult to cover applications, such as automotive, railway, and aerospace interiors.

Like the latest versions of the AS1 and Absolute Arm series, the AS1-XL has an IP54 protection rating and can operate safely and reliably in challenging workshop environments where quality checks are increasingly being used.

Source: Laser Network