In Russia, a Smart Arm Helps Engineers Build Digital Models of Parts
The installation opens new possibilities for 3D inspection and reverse engineering.
Cheboksary Electrical Apparatus Plant has equipped its production floor with an advanced portable coordinate-measuring system. The new smart articulated arm, featuring an electronically controlled grip, fundamentally changes how quality control, 3D scanning, and digital modeling of complex components are performed.
This next-generation, six-axis system delivers ultra-high measurement accuracy compliant with the international ISO 10360-12 standard, allowing engineers to verify the geometry of large components directly on machine tools or on the shop floor. Its key advantage lies in its versatility and mobility. The system supports a wide range of tasks, from rapid inspection of serial parts to full reverse engineering, creating precise digital 3D models of existing components.
According to the university press service cited by IT-Russia, the arm’s main strengths are speed and flexibility. For serial parts, specialists can load saved configurations and obtain results almost instantly. When engineers need to upgrade a component that lacks digital documentation, the arm can independently generate an exact 3D model with accuracy down to four microns.
A Shift Toward Intelligent Measurement Systems
The system also handles complex verification tasks, comparing an ideal CAD model with a real physical part made of metal or composite materials. The software overlays the models and highlights deviations in color, giving operators a complete and intuitive picture of discrepancies.
Another major advantage is its seamless integration with the plant’s existing machine fleet, factory technologists emphasize. Measurements can now be taken without removing a part from the machine. The resulting data is used to immediately adjust the control program, improving the precision of the final product.
The deployment of such technologies clearly demonstrates Russia’s transition toward flexible, mobile, and intelligent measurement systems that are becoming a core element of the smart factories of the future.
