Boeing Aircraft (MDA)-St. Louis purchased a three-dimensional laser tracking system from Leica as a state-of-the-art portable inspection system that can be used in various locations throughout the plant.

The Leica system includes a tracker head assembly and retro reflector, networked PC, and a controller consisting of a power supply, motor amplifiers, encoders and interferometer electronics.

The tracker can measure a surface from varying distances and allows substantial flexibility with large irregular shapes. The machine can be used as a test bed for final assembly and machine shop applications. It can also be used to test a machining program without cutting material, to certify machine alignments, map contour surfaces and mold lines, and to reverse engineer surfaces. This equipment can also be used in place of a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) on large parts that are too cumbersome or too complex to remove from a machine for inspection.

MDA-St. Louis maintains that the laser tracking system can do the work of a four-head theodolite system faster and cheaper, and can work to closer tolerances. Projected annual savings of using this system over conventional tooling bars and optics is approximately $940,862.