PRODUCT REVIEWS
Award-winning inspection and measurement
Employing 44 people , Aberlink Limited was founded in the UK in 1993 .
“ We are the largest UK-owned manufacturer of coordinate measuring machines ( CMMs ), vision systems and 3D measurement software ,” it told ISMR .
“ Entirely British designed and manufactured , our CMMs increase component throughput and remove inspection bottlenecks , helping manufacturers to exceed quality requirements . Our philosophy is to make measurement easy for our customers ,” it continued .
Aberlink ’ s CMMs and range of metrology products are manufactured for ease of use . Designed around a graphical interface , Aberlink 3D measurement software can work in 2D or 3D , on manual or CNC CMMs or when used with touch , scanning or vision systems .
“ Now on its fourth iteration , with over 15,000 + users worldwide and available in various languages , the 3D measurement software has been designed as a powerful , user-friendly solution for inspection measurements . It not only increases component throughput but vastly reduces the learning period for new users ,” added Aberlink .
Aberlink offers a wide range of bridge and delta CMMs to suit applications and budgets , enabling the precise measurement of small components to parts of over three metres long and up to six tonnes in weight . There is a wide range of touch-trigger probes and non-contact measurement options . Its range of CMMs includes 32 standard sizes of both CNC and manual variants . All CMMs are supplied as a complete turnkey package , including the Aberlink 3D measurement software .
Extol CNC CMM
Aberlink Limited was honoured with a King ’ s Award for Enterprise for Innovation 2024 in recognition of the design innovation and error mapping of its Extol CNC CMM . The Award programme , now in its 59th year , is the most prestigious business award in the UK , with successful businesses able to use the King ’ s Awards Emblem for the next five years .
The Extol CNC CMM is a CNC Delta CMM for small to medium parts , with a 200kg maximum load capacity .
“ True to our heritage for innovation , the Extol is the world ’ s first CMM to utilise a delta mechanism . Designed for robustness and reliability , the Extol CMM automatically verifies part quality for critical components . It will run around the clock whether it is positioned next to a machine tool , in a manufacturing cell or used in a dedicated inspection area . Five temperature sensors monitoring the machine and the ambient temperature ensure that the Extol is capable of operating in uncontrolled environments and reporting measurements as though they had been taken at 20 ° C . The software will also issue a warning should the temperature
The award-winning Extol CNC CMM .
change at a rate that is not conducive with reasonable metrology practice ,” outlined Aberlink .
Fulcrum Manual CMM
Aberlink ’ s new Fulcrum Manual CMM is a space-efficient tabletop CMM for small parts . The manual CMM , with a three rotaryaxis design , can be used where it is needed ( on the shop floor near machine tools ). It is designed to optimise inspection as parts come off the machine one operation at a time , feeding back to the machining process at the earliest opportunity before final inspection .
“ A simpler user interface has been developed for Aberlink measurement software , making it even easier to use on a manual CMM while retaining full functionality . After manually scanning the part , critical features are automatically recognized and dimensions are automatically displayed ,” confirmed Aberlink .
“ Intuitive software and innovative design make it the tool of choice for jump-on , adhoc inspection ( whether checking first-off inspection , small batch quality control or setting CNC machines ),” it concluded .
Meet Aberlink Ltd at the Southern Manufacturing exhibition on stand K205 from 4-6 February 2025 in Farnborough , UK . n
www . aberlink . com
The Fulcrum Manual CMM .
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