The WiSAR Lab at Letterkenny Institute of Technology has installed a ‘revolutionary’ scanning device that will allow the lab to expand its test and prototyping capacity for industry.

The technology is an eight-axis portable coordinate measuring machine arm, equipped with an ultra-high precision scanner and related software, and its acquisition came on foot of a successful submission to Enterprise Ireland’s Capital Equipment Fund last year.

The device uses contact and non-contact measuring technology to convert physical objects into digital 3D models, with ultra-high accuracy down to 0.020mm. The equipment is designed for inspection, dimensional analysis, CAD comparison, tool certifications and reverse engineering applications on parts and assemblies across a wide range of engineering businesses, including automotive, marine, agritech and medtech. 

LYIT’s Derek Thornton explained that acquiring the equipment will enable the lab to harness and accelerate the digital capabilities of industry partners, and said: “The speed of technological advance, coupled with the challenge to maintain competitiveness in a dynamic and demanding business environment, has driven a new industrial revolution, particularly in the manufacturing industry.

“This new state-of-the-art, high-resolution scanner can quickly and accurately capture exact specifications of physical objects, from prototype design phase, right through to inspection and verification stage. These capabilities are fundamental for many engineering businesses to leverage unique design and rigorous quality control processes, particularly in the context of the growing consumer demand for personalisation, customisation and shorter lead times.” 

In Association with

Technician Johnny Morrow pointed out that high spec technologies such as these are not readily accessible to most companies and added: “LYIT has seen a growing demand among industry partners for high resolution scanning equipment in the north-west, where we have an abundance of globally renowned manufacturing businesses. This pioneering new scanning facility, which is portable and can be transported directly to client sites, will be a key resource for companies in unlocking the full potential of Industry 4.0.”