Coordinate Measuring Machines
   
It's a great time to buy British and Aberlink offer quality products, great innovation and great value.
Axiom too (Manual or CNC, touch and vision)
Introducing the very popular Axiom too range of manual and CNC CMM's When the original Axiom CMM was released in 1997 it revolutionised CMM design utilising extremely innovative CMM technology. The Axiom was hugely successful but now Aberlink have taken all the best features from the original model and improved upon them. The Axiom too offers a larger measurement volume and higher accuracy than it's predecessor, incorporating the very latest in materials technology. The Axiom too comes in two different sizes, can be manual or CNC and in addition, for those companies who are not sure whether they require a manual or CNC machine, or perhaps couldn't initially justify a CNC machine, the Axiom too manual machine is easily upgradable to CNC at any point in the future. So what features make the Axiom too so outstanding? Well, its all aluminium bridge structure ensures that if the CMM is not housed in a temperature controlled environment, the machine will expand and contract uniformly with temperature fluctuations ensuring no distortion or subsequent errors. Ambient temperature can be compensated for in the user software making it ideal for use on the shop floor and the optional camera gives you touch and vision in one machine. The latest high-tech granite and honeycomb aluminium table provides natural damping and will support components up to 300kg. Also the granite Y beam allows preloading of the bridge air bearings in both directions for superior accuracy.
Latest high tech materials - Granite and honeycomb aluminium structure provides natural damping.
Air Bearings - Air bearings of optimised stiffness are employed on all axes. Reliability - The Axiom too's robust design has been developed for use on the shop floor and is based on the proven record of the original Axiom over the last decade. Intuitive Software - Designed for the first time user, for greater productivity and profitability. Easy Upgrade from manual to CNC - A CNC upgrade kit is available to simply convert manual CMM's to CNC. Compact design - The controller and peripherals are all well housed within the Axiom too workbench for minimum foot-print.
Granite Y Beam - Allows preloading of bridge in both directions for increased accuracy. Complete metrology Package - Aberlink supplies a complete 'Turn Key' package including controller, software, probe and training. High Speed adjustment - Because of optimised fine adjustment on the manual variant machines, hand wheels are left engaged, encouraging good metrology techniques. The frictions can be adjusted to suit the user. CNC Programming - Programming can be in the form of either Teach-and-Repeat or Off-Line assisted by isometric views showing the 3D probing path. Award Winning Software - Designed for Windows to be extremely intuitive, the software allows full 3D profile inspection. Volumetric Accuracy - VDI (U3) 0.0035 + L /250mm Resolution - 0.0005mm
Measuring Volume
X Y Z Manual CNC
640 x 600 x 500 mm from £10,695 + vat from £15,995 + vat
640 x 900 x 500 mm from £12,895 + vat from £18,195 + vat
640 x 1200 x 500 mm Price on request from £20,395 + vat
640 x 1500 x 500 mm Price on request from £23,495 + vat
The above package prices including warranty and are only available for new machines installed within the uk.
Delivery, Installation, training POA.
OPTIONS - (These apply to all the ABERLINK Coordinate Measuring Machines)
Manually Indexible Probe Head.
Alternative fitting of a Renishaw MH20i 15 degree increments (upgrade) £1,350.00
Automatically Indexible Probe Head (CNC machines only)
Renishaw RTP20 Head - 15 degree increments (upgrade) £2,700.00
Motorised Indexible Probe Head (CNC machines only)
Renishaw PH10T Head with TP20 probe - 7.5 degree increments (upgrade) £9,100.00
CAD Comparison software module
For measuring complex components against either an IGES or STEP model £1,500.00
SMC IDFA Series Refrigeration Air Dryer £825.00
USB II CCD Camera system
For non-contact measurement – with built-in light ring & manual focus lens £3,250.00
Aberlink Ltd. reserves the right to make amendments to this price list. Payment due upon completion of installation
Advanced USB 2 Camera/Vision System
Aberlink's CCD camera system offers a non-contact measurement facility on a CMM. A telecentric lens gives distortion-free images on the monitor. Automatic edge detection allows the camera to be used in manual or CNC mode. The lens is adjustable so that working distance can be varied from 130mm to infinity. At 400mm the field of view is a huge 35mm. A fully controllable 16 LED light ring is built into the camera and a clever magnetic, kinematic design allows the probe and camera to be changed in just seconds.
*New ABERLINK ZENITH too CMM range* - Offering what Aberlink claim is the industry’s best performance to cost ratio for this class of machine, the comprehensive new CMM series consists of 10 machines with XYZ capacities ranging from 1000 x 1000 x 600 – 1000 x 3000 x 800. The Zenith Too range’s cutting edge all aluminium construction, advanced drive design and raised guide-ways ensures that despite their generous measuring envelopes, the machines’ extremely low inertia characteristics guarantees supreme speed of operation. The Zenith Too’s impressive accuracy and repeatability figures are further aided by the range’s measuring structure being completely independent of the machine’s granite surface table.
The impressive hardware of the new Zenith Too is complemented by the range’s intuitive Windows based software. A welcome bi-product of any Zenith Too CMM inspection routine is that a simultaneous picture of the measured component is created in real-time on the operator’s computer screen. Dimensions between the measured features, mirroring those that appear on the component drawing, are then picked off as required. In essence Aberlink’s ‘smart’ software represents an intelligent measuring system that is able to automatically recognise and define the various features being measured. Aberlink 3D is claimed to be the easiest to use CMM software currently available, so much so, that a complete novice is usually able to perform relatively involved measurement routines after just 5 minutes training.
Aberlink supply a complete Zenith Too ‘turn-key' package, including a comprehensive training programme, a wide choice of motorised or manual probes, Aberlink’s celebrated 3D software and not least the latest generation of high speed custom controllers, that are capable of generating true, three dimensional contours.
ZENITH TOO available measurement volumes are: 1000 x 1000 x 800 mm from £24,995 1000 x 1500 x 800 mm from £28,995 1000 x 2000 x 800 mm from £33,995 1000 x 2500 x 800 mm from £39,995 1000 x 3000 x 800 mm from £46,995 Based on the Axiom too technology, the 1m x 800mm bridge runs on air bearings on a grade 1, solid granite surface table, which can be manufactured in a range of lengths to offer increased Y axis travel. The Zenith too uses 0.5um scales as standard, and can be fitted with any Renishaw probe or probe head.
Download Zenith too Brochure
Please contact us to for if you have any questions or would like to arrange a demonstration
Aberlink 3D Software
- Award winning, powerful and above all simple to use. In essence Aberlink’s ‘smart’ software represents an intelligent measuring system that is able to automatically recognise and defines the various features being measured. Aberlink 3D is claimed to be the easiest to use CMM software currently available, so much so, that a complete novice is usually able to perform relatively involved measurement routines after just 5 minutes training.
Aberlink 3D Software is the very latest geometric measurement software designed around a graphical interface, not just with graphics added on. Aberlink 3D can be used either on manual or CNC machines, can be configured for use in either 2-dimensions or 3-dimensions and is equally at home when used with either probing systems or vision. The user software is revolutionary, as it builds up a picture of the component being inspected on the computer screen. Dimensions can be ‘picked off’ the picture in a way that corresponds directly to the way the component has been dimensioned on the drawing. Inspection reports can be in the form of fully dimensioned graphical representations as created on the screen, or tabulated reports in various formats that can show nominals, tolerances, errors, pass/fails, geometric tolerances etc. These reports can also be outputted as an Excel spreadsheet. Further reports are available to show the form of features (roundness, straightness etc.), hole or point positions, or complete batch results on one report. The User’s Company name also appears on all output. Every time a component is inspected (whether in manual or CNC software) a program for measuring subsequent components is automatically created. In CNC mode the software automatically calculates ‘safe’ moves between features, even when the probe is indexing – just another thing that the operator doesn’t have to worry about! Parts can also be programmed off-line, by typing in the size and position of features. The Aberlink 3D software will also display SPC batch information for multiple components. Information given includes maximum value in batch, minimum value, 3-sigma, CP value, CPK (Upper & Lower) mean shift and also plots two different customisable charts of the batch data. The software has been designed to be extremely intuitive. The Feature Select option will automatically detect the type of feature being measured and even knows when the user has finished one feature and moved on to another. The Array function allows a program to be created by copying features into a ring or grid array. Erase, Undo and Redo functions take away any worry about making mistakes. Operator help is available via tool tips on all command buttons. Also Geometric tolerancing is available on all features and measurements. The software is extremely easy for the first time user to pick up – If you can read a drawing you can use Aberlink 3D. As well as being able to measure all common geometric features, the Aberlink 3D software also offers a digitising function, allowing the CMM to take point information over a complex surface. In CNC mode the user simply defines an area and step size and the software will automatically handle changes in surface gradient. When working with vision systems the software offers a fully automated edge detection functionality. The settings menu allows the user to configure the software to their needs: features include metric or imperial, angles as degrees, minutes and seconds or decimal, default tolerances, decimal places, temperature compensation etc. etc. Rotate or shift alignments to suit customer drawing i.e. Car-Line or GDT. The Aberlink 3D software allows import and export of data to CAD in DXF format, either for fast off-line programming or reverse engineering purposes. Measured data can be automatically aligned with and compared against a DXF file and deviation from the nominal reported as a profile of a surface. ‘Smiley Face’ operator guidance for form error – warns the user if the form for any given feature deviates from a user defined tolerance. Aberlink 3D software is not only way ahead of its competition in being the industry standard for ‘Easy to Use’ software, but also has the depth of functionality to make it the choice for either occasional users or full time inspection professionals.
Aberlink CAD Comparison software
- Ideal for complex non geometric shapes using IGES and STEP files. Aberlink 3D geometric measurement software has become the industry standard, easy-to-use software when geometric features need to be measured against a drawing. However, sometimes components also contain complex surfaces, or maybe conventional drawings for a component simply don’t exist. In this situation the only way to inspect a part maybe against its CAD model.
Aberlink’s CAD comparison module allows users of the Aberlink 3D software to import a solid model from CAD in either a STEP or an IGES format, and then take measurements using the CAD model as master data. This can be done on either a manual CMM or in full CNC mode. The solid model appears in an additional floating window on top of the main Aberlink 3D screen. The user can manipulate the view of the model by rotating, zooming, panning or simply use the buttons provided to produce a standard isometric view, one of six 2D views, or alternatively up to three custom views that can be saved as required. Alignment of the part to the CAD model can be done in a number of ways using either geometric features, or by best-fitting through measured points on the component’s surface, or by a combination of both methods. Having aligned to the CAD model, any points taken in any measured feature will now appear in the CAD window. These points will be displayed as a colour-coded dot on the model, and can either have a line leading to a box showing the error of the measured point, or alternatively the length of the attached line can be proportional to the error. In this way it is easy to visualise the distortion of a surface relative to the theoretical model. Detailed information about each point can be viewed simply by clicking on the error box. The colours used to represent the error can be displayed either as a colour spectrum (green = zero error, blue = out of tolerance below limit and red = out of tolerance above limit, with different shades of colours in between) or as distinct colour bands. The colour spectrum or bands are fully configurable by the user, together with other variables such as tolerance and scale. The best-fit function allows full 3D re-alignment of the model in order to minimise the RMS errors of any set of measured points within a curve unit. Reports can be prepared at the click of a mouse button and can be either graphical or in a tabulated format, or printed as a combination of both. Reports can be built up from multiple features or multiple inspections, which can be printed from within the Aberlink software or alternatively exported as an Excel file.
Aberlink Vision software module
- Aberlink’s Vision Module allows the Aberlink 3D measurement software to be used not only on touch-trigger CMMs, but also with a camera system, to provide non-contact measurement under either manual or fully automatic CNC control. The camera icon will open an additional window showing the image of the camera.
Measurements can then be performed using the camera image, including a full range of automatic edge detection tools, which will ensure fast and repeatable results without relying on the skill of the operator.
The lighting panel offers software control for surface illumination, back lighting and also TTL lighting, if available. As well as for intensity, the surface illumination tool also allows directional control of the lighting, which is fully automatic under CNC playback. The curve tool also allows the software to trace around the profile of components. Dimensions can then either be called up directly on the measured data, or alternatively geometric features can be constructed through the points, or even a DXF file of the part can be imported and the data best-fitted to the file to view the actual measured shape. A surface profile tolerance can be applied to the DXF file, and where measured points are within the tolerance they will be displayed in green, whereas points falling outside of the tolerance band will be red. In this way a clear graphical representation of the entire shape can viewed in one screen. The Aberlink 3D software allows the user to dimension the measured features exactly as they would appear on a drawing. Dimensions that are in tolerance appear in green, and out of tolerance appear in red. The software also allows full geometric tolerancing, and a range of inspection reports can be created with the click of a mouse button. The digital zoom function allows you to zoom in on very fine features without the need for expensive optics (although control of both manual and CNC zoom lenses is available within the software). Control of the Z axis and auto-focus is also available under software control. Other standard measurement tools include lines, arcs, circles, points, peak points and automatic shape recognition. Measurements can be performed using edge detection, or centre line detection, or by using full cross-hairs or mouse cross-hairs, and there is also a unique Smart Measure function that will take discrete measurement points by detecting an edge in the vicinity of a mouse click. Some special tools include the ‘All Edge Points’ function, where every edge within the field of view will be grabbed with just a single mouse click. There is a ‘Thread Measure’ tool for analysing thread forms, and a ‘Screen Ruler’ function for when you just need a quick measurement between 2 points on the image. All the edge detection controls are configurable by the user, such as step size between points, and filters etc. It is even possible to see how the tools affect the measurement points live on the screen before actually accepting them. There are also camera controls to adjust brightness, contrast, exposure, gain and colour control etc., or alternatively these can be automatically adjusted to suit the set up. The Aberlink 3D software will also display SPC batch information. Results reported include maximum value in batch, minimum value, 3-sigma, CP value, CPK (Upper & Lower) mean shift and also plots two different customisable charts of the batch data. Various inspection reports can be printed in the form of fully dimensioned graphical representations, as created on the screen, or tabulated reports in several formats that can show nominals, tolerances, errors, pass/fails, geometric tolerances etc. These reports can also be outputted as an Excel spreadsheet.
Back Lighting when using a Camera System has always been a difficult area on a CMM, as the base of the machine is solid. Whilst it is possible to use a light box, this is cumbersome, limits the weight of the component that can be measured and is not controllable within the software. However, Marcus has come up with a brilliant invention to make back lighting of a component on a CMM both simple and controllable: From now on the light ring on our Camera System will contain alternate white and UV LEDs. The white LEDs provide surface illumination in the normal manner, while the UV LEDs are used to provide back lighting. The component to be measured is placed on a piece of paper. When back lighting is required the component is illuminated with UV light. Any light striking the surface of the component is reflected, and because it is UV is invisible to the camera. However, any light, which passes by the component and strikes the paper fluoresces and therefore becomes visible. The effect of this is that an extremely sharp silhouette of the component is produced, as it is now being lit from underneath……and all this at NO EXTRA COST. Of course instead of paper we offer a plate for customers to place their components on. This can cover the whole measurement area of the CMM. It will consist of ‘special’ reflective paper underneath a sheet of glass and housed in a frame. By lifting the component above the reflective paper we also ensure that the reflected light is closer to being collimated and the shadowing effect around the edges is effectively eliminated. The patent for this technology has been filed, once again with help from our friends at Renishaw. Hopefully having their name on the patent will add weight to deter any companies from ‘borrowing’ another one of Marcus’ clever ideas!
ABERLINK can truly be described as a remarkble Metrology success story, they have enjoyed an average year on year increase in turnover of 28% and their products are exported to virtually every country throughout the industrialised world accounting for 81% of output . They have earned a global reputation for producing cost-effective Coordinate Measuring Machines and Optical Measuring Systems that are renowned internationally for their quality, accuracy, robustness, speed and above all for being extremely easy to use. Prompted by the increasing demand for their growing range of CMMs ABERLINK have recently moved to a new purpose built state of the art headquarters in Eastcombe, Glos.
Why not LEASE a CMM?
The largest UK owned manufacturer of CMMs, ABERLINK are offering the chance to lease a NEW Co-ordinate Measuring Machine, Manual or CNC, Touch or Vision (or Both). Simply choose your machine and accessories, then take the package price and divide by thirty to arrive at the monthly leasing charge.
For example if the package price is £20,000, the monthly leasing charge is just £666.67. Three payments are required in the first month as this is to cover instalation, training and the first months lease payment ie the first month would be £2,000 and after that the cost is just £666.67 per month.
If at a future date you decide you would like to buy the machine Aberlink will accept 80% of the lease payments towards the cost of the machine.
CMM Fixtures
- If you need to inspect large quantities of small components or difficult to hold components, custom designed CMM fixtures from Bowers Systems may be the solution, please contact us with your requirement.
USED Coordinate Measuring Machines
There are currently have three fully re-furbished CMMs running the latest Aberlink 3D software, 12 months warranty, installation and training.
ABERLINK Axiom too manual CMM measuring range 640 x 600 x 500 mm
Serial no 4223 sold new Jan 2007, fully re-furbished and sold with 12 months warrenty
Scale resolution 0.5 microns
Fitted with Renishaw MH8 indexible probe head with TP20 probe and styli kit
Fitted with mist filters and reference ball
Includes New PC, Printer, Monitor and Speakers
Sold as complete package
Price £8,995 plus VAT. (Note this machine can be upgrade to CNC for an additional £5,000 plus VAT and all the standard options are available)
ABERLINK Maxim High Speed CNC CMM measuring range 500 x 600 x 400 mm
Serial no. 6029 new at March 2001, fully re-furbished and sold with 12 months warranty, installation and training. (Ex-demo machine)
Renishaw scale and readhead system resolution 0.5 um
Fitted with Renishaw PH50 motorised probe head with TP50 touch trigger probe
Mist filters and reference ball
Running the very latest Aberlink 3D measurement software for CNC CMMs
Sold as complete package
Price £11,995 plus VAT (Aberlink standard additional options are available)
Mitutoyo BX303 manual CMM, measuring range 320 x 300 x 200 mm
Overall dimensions height 1,700 width 820 depth 720 mm
Approximately 12 years old but rully refurbished and sold with 12 months warranty
New PC and peripheralsfitted and running the very latest Aberlink 3D measurement software
Scale resolution 1um
New Renishaw TP8 probe fitted
Complete turn-key package including installation, calibration and training for:
Price £5,495 plus VAT
Please contact us for more information or to arrange a demonstration on any of the above machines
Renishaw
Please contact us for price and delivery of Touch Trigger Probes, Stylus Modules, Module Change Racks, Probes Heads, Stylii etc to upgrade your CMM sales@northernmetrology.co.uk
Touch Trigger Probes (TTP) from Renishaw
TP7M / TP7M EP
Renishaw Probe - Excellent repeatability and high precision 3D form measurement, 6-way measuring capability (+-X, +-Y, +-Z), stylus reach up to 180 mm (7.08") using GF range, zero reseat errors and no lobing effect, fitment to PH10M / PH10MQ or PH6M via the autojoint coupling which gives the capability of fast probe changing when used with a Renishaw autochange rack system
TP2-5W
Renishaw Probe - Small, light, versatile probe, adjustable trigger force, compatible with M2 stylii, compatible with full range of Renishaw probe heads and accessories, suitable for manual and DCC CMMs
TP1(S)
Renishaw Probe - Ideal for manual CMMs, robust, large overtravel range, large adjustable trigger range, shank mounted
TP6 / TP6A
Renishaw Probe - Autojoint or M8 version, long stylus carrying capability, robust, adjustable trigger force range, M3 stylus mount
TP200 / TP200B
Renishaw Modular Probe - Excellent repeatability and precision 3D form measurement, rapid exchange between stylus without the need to re-calibrate, 6 way measuring capability (+-X, +-Y, +-Z), SF and LF modules to give increased overtravel force to suit the application, EO module to increased overtravel in probe Z axis, zero reseat errors and no lobing effect, suitable for intensive 'peck' or 'stitch' scanning, stylus reach up to 100 mm (3.99") GF range
TP20 / TP20 NI (the NI version is for use where operation is within a magnetic field)
Renishaw Modular Probe - a kinematic touch trigger probe system for both manual and DCC CMMs, rapid exchange between stylus configurations without the need to re-calibrate, a choice between seven stylus modules giving 5-way or 6-way operation, allowing optimisation of probe and stylus performance to suit the given application, easily retrofitted to all Renishaw standard probe heads (M8 or autojoint fitting) and compatible with existing TTP interfaces, metrology performance equivalent to industry proven TP2-5W probe, compatible with the full of Renishaw probe heads and accessories
TP20 Stylus Modules
There are seven types of Renishaw stylus modules for the TP20 probe body these are:
SF Standard Force, LF Low Force, MF Medium Force (higher than Standard Force), EF Extra Force (higher force in Z axis), 6W 6-way stylus module, EM1 SF Extension Mudule of Standard Force, EM2 SF Extension Module of Standard Force
MCR20
Renishaw Module Changing Rack - Designed to securely store stylus modules ready for rapid automatic changing, whilst protecting mating surfaces from any airbourne contaminants within the working environment
MSR1
Renishaw Module Storage Rack - For manual storage of modules
RENISHAW PROBE HEADS
MIH
Renishaw Manually Indexing probe Head - Repeatable indexing in 720 positions, an integeral LCD enables easy programming of probe orientation positions, 20 probe can be memorised, compatable with most Renishaw probes (excluding all multi-wire e.g. TP7M)
MIH-S
This is an enhanced version of the MIH probe head which enables the feedback of positional status to the PC over an RS232 serial communication link, via the MIH-SI interface. This enables the CMM to verify that the MIH-S has been moved to the correct position and locked into place and to identify the locked position of the MIH-S
Measurement performance, functionality and dimensionsare the same as for the MIH
MH8
Renishaw Manually Indexing probe Head - Universal M8 thread for probe connection, repeatable indexing in 168 positions, the CMM operator need only
PH6
Renishaw Fixed Probe Head - Universal M8 thread for probe connection, shank mounted, integral cable, simple to fit to a CMM
PH6M
Renishaw Fixed Probe Head - Fixed vertical probe head, autojoint for fast repeatable probe changing, compatable with the complete Renishaw multi-wire probe range and standard probes with autojoint adaptors and extension bars
PH1
Renishaw manual articulating Probe Head - Adjustable in both the A and B axes, limited overtravel protection, M8 thread probe mount that is offset from the mounting shank Z axis
MH20
Renishaw Manual articulating probe Head - Fast repeatable stylus module changing to improve productivity, ultra compact design that maximises CMM working volume, infinite positioning within the range of the head to optimise access to complex parts, TP 20 compatibility ensures a wide range of stylus configurations are easily interchanged enhancing flexibility
MH20i
Renishaw manual indexing probe head - Enhanced inspection capability fromadjustable probe orientation with 168 repeatable index positions set at 15 degree increments, repeatable TP20 stylus module changing in each pre-qualified position without the need for re-qualification significantly increases productivity, TP20 compatibiltiy, providing a wide range of force and length options to optimise machine performance and access capability, easy to read scales allow rapid re-orientation
PH10T
Renishaw motorised indexing probe head - Compatable with all M8 thread probes, compatable with PEL range of extension bars up to 300 mm (11.81") long, 720 repeatable positions at 7.5 degree increments, shank mounted
PH10M
Renishaw motorised indexing probe head - Autojoint mount, repeatable probe positioning, rapid automatic interchange via ACR1 or ACR3, full multi-wire capability (designated by the M om PH10M), 720 repeatable positions, at 7.5 degree increments, torque capable of lifting 300 mm (11.81") extension bar
Please contact us for price and delivery of Touch Trigger Probes, Stylus Modules, Module Change Racks, Probes Heads, Stylii etc to upgrade your CMM sales@northernmetrology.co.uk
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