Scanner saves time for Atommash

Atommash is part of AEM-Technology, which is a unit of Atomenergomash, Rosatom's power engineering subsidiary. The Petrozavodskmash plant is capable of making and finishing heavy power plant components including steam generators and reactor pressure vessels.

"The main advantage of 3-D scanning is the high speed of the scan and data processing," said Atommash. Taking the example task of measuring a pressure compensator, the company said its workers typically needed 8-12 hours for measurement using previous laser trackers, and then a further 4 hours for data processing. The new device takes just 2 hours for scanning and 2 hours for data processing.

The new hand-held unit can scan components up to 6 metres in diameter, so it complements other systems already used at the factory for small items up to 1.5 m and for large items as much as 50 m long.

Given the "positive experience" with the scanning system, Kuntysh said it would "make it possible to obtain high precision digital twins of the products and take a large step towards Industry 4.0 measurement at our plant."