Hexagon has launched METRICAL, an automated queuing, loading, and unloading system for inspecting parts of all sizes on coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). The solution addresses a shortage of skilled inspection labor and the need to increase output without adding operators.
“As manufacturers face tightening labor markets, increasing product complexity, and pressure to maintain 24/7 production, inspection teams are often forced to balance high-value metrology work with repetitive manual loading tasks,” said Jörg Deller, vice president product technology hardware for division stationary metrology at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence. “METRICAL removes that bottleneck by automating part handling and enabling more continuous measurement cycles with minimal human oversight.”
METRICAL integrates with Hexagon’s CMM portfolio, including the MAESTRO CMM, and runs on new and installed equipment. Parts are queued, loaded, measured, and unloaded automatically across multiple shifts, reducing idle time between measurement cycles. Skilled operators can spend their time on programming, analysis, and process optimization rather than manual loading.
Three, Five, or Seven Preparation Bays
METRICAL comes in three configurations with three, five, or seven preparation bays, letting manufacturers scale automation as production volumes change. Hexagon said the system deploys quickly, so automated inspection can begin after installation without lengthy integration cycles.
Hexagon lists these outcomes:
- Increased CMM throughput, utilization, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
- Reduced dependency on scarce, skilled inspection labor
- Improved workforce allocation and operator productivity
- Off-shift, unattended inspection operations
- Reduced repetitive part-handling tasks for workers
- Flexibility across shifts and product variants
Control Software
METRICAL’s software provides a visual interface for task setup and inspection scheduling. Dashboard-based monitoring shows production status in real time, and modular fixturing lets manufacturers reconfigure for new parts without complex reprogramming.
METRICAL is one of several automation and AI-driven additions Hexagon is bringing to inspection this year. The company said further CMM portfolio announcements are coming in the next few weeks.
Source: Hexagon
About Hexagon
Hexagon AB is a Swedish industrial technology company based in Stockholm, Sweden. The company traces its origins to Eken Industri och Handel AB, founded in Stockholm in 1975. Hexagon supplies measurement, positioning, sensing, and software products for industrial and public-sector users. Its products include sensors, coordinate measuring machines, laser scanners, positioning systems, CAD/CAM software, geospatial tools, asset lifecycle systems, and autonomous technologies. The company serves customers in manufacturing, construction, aerospace, agriculture, mining, public safety, infrastructure, and mobility. Engineers, surveyors, manufacturers, asset owners, governments, and industrial operators use its products. Hexagon reported about 24,500 employees in 50 countries.
