Scan laser etched features? Tips if possible please.

[[Mi...]]

I have a vanadium formed part that has been laser etched with a pattern (before forming while in flat sheet metal state)(formed state looks like a mixing bowl)

Now that the part has been formed the customer would like a scan of the part and I am having a difficult time capturing the laser etched pattern. I have played with the exposure time with mixed results, sometimes it would capture some of the etched shape yet have no depth (similar to a through hole) , other setting would have captured a few samples of the pattern with a "V" depth however once I polygonized the scan it would smooth out the etch feature.

ATOS 5 is our unit.

 

 

[[Ma...]]

I am wondering if settings for metal sheets would work - like you want to measure diameter of a hole in metal sheet.

What settings you have for polygonizing? In expert settings you can set more. In Inspect manual pdf is more about it - worth of a try to read it about polygonization.

[[Jo...]]

• what are you using for matting/spraying the part?
• i once had a problem with a small groove: From specific angles i got the groove just right, but when the sensor was taking additional shots from an flatter angle (to get different areas of the part) the groove was sometimes partially closed again when putting the information from the different shots together. I solved it with playing with the flatter angles, but that is probably impossible with your part in the form of a bowl. Some grooves would always be in the "wrong" angle.
• you could have a look here, maybe some of those options help: https://techguide.zeiss.com/en/zeiss-inspect-2025/article/dlg_measurement_parameters_userdefined.html

 

 

[[Na...]]

Hi Mike, 

it also depends on the measuring volume, if the the etched pattern can be measured. Maybe the feature can be detected with surface defects (ZEISS Quality Tech Guide). A surface curve can be traced 'along contrast line', maybe this could be used for this applications.

If the pattern is used for a forming analysis, there is our ARGUS system, which also works with etched patterns: ARGUS: Optical solution for forming analysis | ZEISS

Maybe it's best to contact your lokal support with the concrete data set to find the correct scanning and polygonization parameters. 

Nanno

 

[[Mi...]]

All, Thank you for the reply.

I did use sheetmetal setting to help with the reflections, as for physical reflection media I used AESUB blue and I tried boron nitride powder. Both the spray and the powder only masked the etching and made it difficult to capture anything except for the form of the part.

We did make a partial scan to get started with testing however even after aligning the part I cannot figure out how I will measure from one "circle" (not really circles anymore due to not being round and not quite spheres if I am thinking about this correctly)   

 

For reference the  OD is 200mm and the reference markers are 0.8mm

 

 

[[Ma...]]

I am out - not enough XP 

[[Jo...]]

How deep and wide are the grooves from the laser etching?

Out if curiosity: what is the funktion of those circles?  Looks almost just decorative.

I honestly ask my self why this has to meaured at all. As they are deformed (every circle differently) anyway by the forming process, it cant be that important otherwise you would have to choose a different manufactoring approach.

 

I dont think a 3d scanner is the right measurement device for this.

Other optical systems like those from bruker alicona for exmple might be able to handle this, but i have no real live experience with those.