Talking Points

SpaceX Falcon9 lifts off. Photo credit NASA TVCongratulations to SpaceX on the successful launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 3:44 am EDT this morning! Falcon 9 is carrying the Dragon cargo capsule on its historic flight as the first non-governmental space vessel to dock with the International Space Station (ISS). The test flight was used as a restocking mission to carry food and clothing to ISS's crew. It also carried some rather unique items into space. Spa...

There aren't many books dedicated to coordinate measuring machines. Maybe it's the small number of people who even know what a CMM is. Maybe it's a (gasp) lack of interest in the topic.  Whatever the reason, here at Hexagon we're always excited to see a new book about CMMs. We're even more excited when that book features our machines on the cover. Check out Coordinate Measuring Machines and Systems (second edition) by Robert J. Hocken and Paulo H. Pereira. But wait - it gets better. Dr. Paulo ...

Section 179 of the IRS tax code facilitates small business growth by making capital purchases more affordable. It allows businesses to treat the qualifying purchase as an expense, rather than a capital expenditure.  Therefore instead of depreciating the cost of equipment, a company can write off some or all of the amount in the first year. Section 179, combined with equipment financing, may be profitable for you. That’s because you could save MORE with the deduction than you pay in finance paym...

We've all heard discussions of skyrocketing gas prices, concern for reliance on fossil fuels, and an overall movement to go green. Alternative sources of energy enter the conversations, with wind power playing a prominent role. However, when we take a step back and look at wind patterns across the continental United States, they look like a work of art. Click here to view. Of course over 8,000 parts operating at over 250 feet above the ground translates into sky high repair costs for component...

Do you have an idea that could save lives, generate jobs, or make the world a greener, safer place? Enter the 2012 "Create the Future" Design Contest — sponsored by COMSOL, Nordson EFD, and Tech Briefs Media — for a chance to see your idea become reality. The tenth annual contest offers a grand prize of $20,000 and worldwide publicity. Entries can be submitted by individuals and/or teams in seven categories:  Consumer Products Electronics Machinery & Equipment Medical (sponsored by Value...

Quality Digest recenty visited our precision center in North Kingstown, RI and spoke with Jim Flanagan, our program manager for refurbished CMMs. Host Dirk Dusharme discussed with Jim what makes buying a used refurbished CMM from Hexagon Metrology totally different from buying a used cmm from an equipment auction or from Ebay.     /*!CDATA[*/ wistiaEmbed = Wistia.embed("050d614ead", { videoWidth: "640", videoHeight: "360", controlsVisibleOnLoad: true }); Wistia.plugin.postRo...

We'd like to introduce you to the Brown & Sharpe 4.5.4 SF, the latest generation of shop floor CMMs. Based on  extensive experience with three previous generations of shop floor machines, customer feedback, and thousands of units in the field, we've created our latest product with all the things that made our prior products great, and added some new ones that make the 4.5.4 SF even better. See the SF in person at upcoming shows MFG4 in Hartford and of course the Hexagon 2012 user conference in...

Software to streamline product development into a drawing-free process is the next generation of 3D CAD capabilities. It simplifies manufacturing operations to greatly improve inspection processes. Historically, the CAD model required a separate blueprint to determine datum structure, key characteristics, and tolerancing for an inspection plan. That of course leaves the nagging question of whether the CAD data or the print is the most current revision. Check out a Q & A feature in Desktop Engi...

Hiding among precision aerospace tooling of course! The picture below, taken at Witchita's Mid-Continent Airport, shows an ad from one of our customers - Galaxy Tool Corporation. Nicknamed 'The Air Capital of the World', Witchita's home to Cessna, Beechcraft, Learjet, and Spirit AeroSystems. Also, Airbus and Boeing currently maintain facilities in Witchita. Have you seen our equipment in a unique or interesting spot? Contact us and let us know....

The National Institute for Aviation Research operates a reverse engineering and virtual reality lab in Wichita, KS. The Wichita Eagle recently reported on how the lab is using reverse engineering and virtual reality techniques to help re-create legacy aircraft parts for which there are no original drawings, or only 2D blueprints available.  A key part of the lab's equipment is their ROMER Absolute Arm with laser scanner.  This device allows them to create 3D point clouds of millions of data poin...

Jim Flanagan, the manager of Hexagon Metrology's preowned CMM division (and the person that makes sure that HexagonPreowned.com is updated with all our latest preowned inventory) offers some advice on how to be an informed buyer of used CMMs.   "There are a lot of ways to buy a used CMM: auctions, bankruptcy sales, Ebay, used equipment dealers, and so on.  It really helps to be an informed buyer so you can ask the right questions and get some critical information that makes the differ...

Well maybe not a package, exactly, but certainly a convenient way to buy and receive remote applications support on your PC-DMIS software, CMM programing challenges or anything else (metrology related) where you need applications related assistance  This service goes beyond tech support by offering specific one-on-one assistance for training related questions, complex technical support,  advice on building complex part programs, measurement strategies, program debugging or just about a...

HUCS stands for Hexagon Universal Calibration Services.  The HUCS group of Hexagon Metrology is a specific group within the field service team that specializes in the calibration of non-Hexagon brand CMMs and all types of Machine Tools.   HUCS is headed up by Mike Blake who has over 20 years experience in the metrology industry including several years as a service engineer. Talking Points: Mike, please explain why your HUCS team is unique inside of Hexagon Metrology:Mike: We have a gr...

No, not Rocky Balboa, our very own David "Rocky" Andrade, Hexagon Metrology's used CMM buyer.   We caught up with Rocky to ask him about his world-- scouring the country for the best used CMMS for Hexagon Metrology’s Inc. preowned CMM program, and discover the advantages of offering a CMM for sale or trade to Hexagon Metrology.   Talking Points: Explain your role at Hexagon Metrology:Rocky:  My function at Hexagon is to find used machines to buy, make the deal, move the money and...

It's great to see our cutting edge technology at home with NASA's. Both the ROMER arm and Leica AT901 laser tracker appear in the picture - the arm at the center and the tracker to its lower left.  NASA Goddard's Satellite Servicing Development Facility is a testing ground for new technology. Before any satellite servicing equipment is launched into orbit, it goes through rigorous testing in simulated environments that mirror microgravity conditions. The systems, components and tasks are tested...

Imagine if museum artifacts were exposed to the effects of the natural environment. Even seemingly benign factors – sun, wind and rain – would start to take their toll. Now imagine the more dramatic – earthquakes, arson, and war for example. CyArk is a non-profit organization dedicated to digitally preserving cultural heritage sites around the world. From Mount Rushmore to Rapa Nui on Easter Island - even 2 miles down to the wreckage of Titanic - CyArk has cataloged numerous sites. They accompl...

Automation can cause internal conflict if it’s seen as a replacement for skilled employees. However for Lowell Inc., a medical contract manufacturing and engineering company in Minneapolis, MN, automation was a win-win option. The company turned to Leitz and Brown and Sharpe equipment for automation—not to replace workers, but to enhance their efficiency and competitiveness.  Now, part loading is automated through a robotic pallet loader. Standard 6.5 x 13.5 inch pallets were fitted with unique...

Artist Concept - Mars Curiosity Rover. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.If NASA's Mars Exploration Program has its way there ultimately will be – us!  Its Curiosity Rover is currently on a 254 day journey between earth and the red planet (scheduled to land in early August). During the 23 months after landing, equivalent to one Martian year, the rover will spend its time analyzing soil samples to help determine the viability of life. We contributed to the mission’s success by checking the accuracy ...

Fabspeed Precision., a Philadelphia area manufacturer of custom exhaust systems for high-end sports cars (and a ROMER Infinite 2.0 user) was featured in the Tube & Pipe Journal's July issue.   Fabricator leaves its competitors in the dustAfter-market exhaust systems-maker reinvents itself, adds contract manufacturing services by Eric Lundin It wasn't that long ago that Joe Fabiani decided to make a custom exhaust system for his Porsche. A member of the Porsche Club of America (PCA) a...

You work on exceptional projects and probably have exceptional pictures to match. Enter “@round the world with Leica Geosystems” for a chance to show them off. After last year's “heroes@work” contest, and the stunning results it produced for Leica Geosystems´ 2012 wall calendar, we're at it again. Send us great pictures of you and/or your team with their Leica Geosystems equipment in special situations or projects around the globe. Subjects include: 1) HDS2) Metrology3) Surveying4) Light Const...

Got something to say? We want to hear from you! You're already planning to attend the premier event in metrology, why not tell people about it? Register to be part of our Hexagon 2012 guest blogger program and have your voice heard. Blog 200 to 300 words about anything that inspires you, concepts you find interesting, or whatever you've learned while there. Sample ideas to get you thinking include: Inspiring keynote presentations Fabulous networking events Techniques gleaned from NASCAR a...

Hexagon 2012 is almost here. Show your excitement for a chance to win a free ticket to the event! From now until May 11, we’ll be accepting entries for the most creative Hexagon Metrology, Hexagon Metrology brand (all those logos on the bottom of this page) or dimensional metrology related haiku. Send us your best 5, 7 , 5 syllable poems - rhyming optional - for your chance to win. Post your entries to our Facebook page, Tweet to @hexmet, post to our LinkedIn Group, or add a comment at the bot...

All good things must come to an end - including early registration discounts for Hexagon 2012. This is your last chance to register at the discounted rates for the Hexagon 2012 International Conference, June 4-7, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Learn how to leverage the most advanced metrology technologies to move your business and industry forward. Join us and discover how to begin solving the problems of tomorrow today! Don't get left behind! Register before Apri 16th and take advantage of our "Pre-Re...

Yes, we make great products but did you know we calibrate not just Hexagon CMM brands (Brown & Sharpe, DEA, Leitz, Sheffield, Starrett*), but we also calibrate other brands of CMM equipment such as Zeiss, Mitutoyo, Helmel and Wenzel too? We also calibrate horizontal and vertical CNC machines and even boring mills - when it comes to calibrations, we do it all! All of this is possible through a group we call Hexagon Universal Calibration Services, which is a team-within-a-team of service engineer...