Hexagon Metrology recently announced the North American debut of its new Romer Absolute Arm series. The new series will be launched at the Hexagon 2012 conference  June 4 - 7 in Las Vegas. This event is the second such international conference, expected to draw more than 3,000 attendees, which unites users from all Hexagon group companies to learn and share ideas with peers. The upgraded design innovations increase the accuracy of the portable coordinate measuring machine (PCMM) by up to 23 percent compared to previous versions. With point repeatability values from 0.016 mm, the Romer Absolute Arm is the most accurate portable measuring arm produced by Hexagon Metrology. Other features include SmartLock technology, which securely locks the arm in its rest position using a simple switch at the base. SmartLock enables users to lock the arm in any intermediate position to ease inspections in physically limited areas. The new version also contains an easy-to-access battery pack to minimize downtime required for battery changes. Absolute encoders recognize the position of the arm at all times, effectively eliminating the need for complex homing procedures. Automatic probe recognition allows operators to change probes within seconds without the need for recalibration. Its optional integrated scanning solution is factory calibrated and certified with the arm and scanner as a complete system.

The Romer Absolute Arm is available in seven lengths, from 1.5 m to 4.5 m. "The Absolute Arm was already the most accurate arm on the market, but with advancements in design, the new version is even more accurate than before. This pushes the envelope of what is possible with portable measurement technology," states Eric Hollenbeck, product manager for portable technology at Hexagon Metrology. "The most dramatic improvements will be seen on the larger models including our 4 m and 4.5 m arms - the largest in the industry." All new orders will be shipped from the state-of-the-art facility in Oceanside, CA with the revised specifications.