A Comparison of Laser-Correction Approaches for Planar Near-Field Scanners
Author: Scott T. McBride, Ping Yang, Robert L. Luna
Publication: AMTA 2015
Copyright Owner: NSI-MI Technologies
MI has recently developed and installed two separate real-time laser-correction mechanisms for large planar scan-ners. One mechanism employs a spinning laser, while the other uses a tracking laser with multiple SMR constellations. The spinning-laser system is limited to planarity correction, and is appropriate for any planar scanner up to a diagonal of about 15 meters. The tracking-laser system compensates X, Y, and Z, and is intended for a horizontal planar scanner of larger size or when X and Y positions also require dynamic correction. This paper will provide an overview of the two correction mechanisms, contrast the two approaches, and include measured performance data on scanners employing each mechanism.