Leica T-Scan Technology Used to Capture Famous Artifact from the Civil War Ironclad USS Monitor
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Lawrenceville, GA - November 22, 2005 --The Metrology Division of Leica Geosystems today announced their newest Local Positioning technology, the Leica T-Scan product, was used for the high-precision surface data capture of a famous artifact retrieved from the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor. The historic anchor was the first major relic recovered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, east of Cape Hatteras in the Atlantic Ocean. The Mariners' Museum (Newport News, VA) is home to hundreds of artifacts and archives from the Monitor.
Leica Geosystems joined hands with the Mariner's Museum and MAGLEV, Inc. (McKeesport, PA) for this data acquisition project resulting in an accurate 3D digital replica of the anchor. At 7000 points per minute, the hand-held scanner allowed the team to capture the 3D object in a fast, unfettered manner. The Leica T-Scan works in tandem with the Leica Laser Tracker, a portable coordinate measurement system (PCMM) used for industrial measurement and inspection applications. Metrologists can use the Leica T-Scan to work in measurement volumes of up to 30m. The operator can digitize both small and large objects, and gather millions of points in just minutes with an accuracy of better than 100 microns. Complete 3D coverage is made easy by the tracker's ability to be relocated to various vantage points and collect multiple data sets in the same coordinate system.
Senior metrologists from Leica Geosystems and MAGLEV gathered at the Mariner's Museum for the two-day endeavor. The Leica T-Scan works so intuitively that the Museum workers each had a chance to use the device and capture digital data from the anchor. This surface data will form the foundation of a highly detailed 3D computer model that can be used for measurement, documentation, and archival records. This digital record of the anchor's construction can also be used to monitor the anchor's condition, and to reproduce physical prototypes for merchandising and exhibit purposes.
The Mariner's Museum has worked conjointly with NOAA and the U.S. Navy to obtain more than 1,100 artifacts from the Monitor, including the anchor, steam engine, propeller, and revolving gun turret. The Mariners' Museum and NOAA are working toward constructing and opening a new USS Monitor Center in March 2007. A full-scale replica of the Monitor warship will serve as the dynamic focal point of the Center. The results of Leica Geosystems data acquisition work, and other scanning projects, will directly contribute to the Museum's ability to create exciting exhibits and rich visualizations of these historic artifacts.
Using the Leica T-Scan, reverse engineering and inspection processes now require less time for set-up and object preparation. Leica's Universal CMM solution combines laser tracking functionality with probing and scanning capabilities in the largest measurement volume. No competitor in the metrology marketplace brings this dimension to the shop floor. For more than two decades, the Leica Metrology Division has served the needs of the aerospace, automotive, and general engineering industries.
About The Mariner's Museum
The Mariners' Museum, an educational, non-profit institution accredited by the American Association of Museums, preserves and interprets maritime history through an international collection of ship models, figureheads, paintings and other maritime artifacts. The Museum is open from 10 A.M. until 5 P.M. daily. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. For information, call (757) 596-2222 or (800) 581-7245, or write to The Mariners' Museum, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA 23606. The Museum can be reached on the World Wide Web at www.mariner.org.
About MAGLEV, Inc.
MAGLEV, Inc., a Pennsylvania company, incorporated in 1990, comprised of and supported by numerous private and public entities. Its goal is to support leading technologies in large steel component fabrication and to lead the installation of the first commercial High Speed Maglev in the USA in Pittsburgh, and in subsequent phases to expand across the Region, State, and Country. Currently, MAGLEV, Inc. is performing research under contract to the Office of Naval Research. The Research Facility is located at 1000 Industry Road, McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
About the Metrology Division of Leica Geosystems
The Metrology Division of Leica Geosystems is a global supplier of comprehensive hardware and software packages to the industrial metrology market. These products integrate with popular CAD programs, various build-and-inspect tools, and reverse engineering software. Using state-of-the-art laser technology, Leica's industrial measurement products make quality control, part mating, assembly and construction of large and small parts easier and more accurate than ever. Leica's laser tracker technology is most widely used, with over 1,600 installations worldwide. In addition there are about 1,500 Industrial Theodolite Systems in use, which customers confirm are the most accurate in their category.
Leica Geosystems - a portrait
With close to 200 years of pioneering solutions to measure the world, Leica Geosystems products and services are trusted by professionals worldwide to help them capture, analyze, and present spatial information. Leica Geosystems is best known for its broad array of products that capture accurately, model quickly, analyze easily, and visualize and present spatial information even in 3D. Those who use Leica products every day trust them for their dependability, the value they deliver, and the superior customer support. Based in Switzerland, Leica Geosystems is a global company with tens of thousands of customers supported by 2,400 employees in 21 countries and hundreds of partners located in more than 120 countries around the world. Leica Geosystems is a publicly listed company, registered with the Swiss Stock Exchange (SWX).
For further information please contact:
Press Contact:
Simona Gambini
Director Global Marketing & Communication
Leica Geosystems AG, Metrology Division
CH-5035 Unterentfelden - Switzerland
Tel: +41 62 737 67 60 (direct)
Tel: +41 62 737 67 67 (reception)
E-mail: press.metrology@leica-geosystems.com
Internet: http://www.leica-geosystems.com/metrology
U.S. Press Contact:
Belinda Jones
HiTech Marketing llc
Westbrook, CT 06498, USA
Tel: +1 860 399 1147
E-mail: belinda.jones@hitechmarketing.com
Internet: http://www.hitechmarketing.com/
