The ATLASCAN Max is the first handheld 3D laser scanner from Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, bringing the company's metrology heritage into a portable, cable-free form factor. It projects 26 blue laser lines in standard mode — plus a dedicated single-line mode for deep cavities and a 14-line fine mode for high-resolution detail — capturing up to 3 million coordinate points per second with a stated single-point accuracy of 0.02 mm. The scanner achieves volumetric accuracy compliant with VDI/VDE 2634-3, the German standard for optical 3D measurement systems, making it admissible for first-article inspection, production quality control, and tooling validation in automotive and aerospace manufacturing.

Wireless scanning: what does cable-free actually deliver?

Most handheld laser scanners require a tethered USB or proprietary cable to a workstation running the capture software, limiting operator mobility and complicating shop-floor inspection of large assemblies — vehicle bodies, airframe sections, welding jigs, and stamping dies. The ATLASCAN Max offers an optional wireless scanning module: a battery-powered transmitter that replaces the USB cable entirely, streaming scan data to the host PC over a dedicated wireless link. The scanner itself weighs 1 kg, and the wireless configuration eliminates cable-drag-induced hand tremor that can introduce noise at the 0.02 mm accuracy level. On-device thumb controls toggle between standard (26-line), fine (14-line), and single-line modes without returning to the computer, so the inspector can switch from broad-surface digitization to deep-slot probing in the same scanning sequence.

How does the three-mode laser configuration work?

Data from all three modes merge seamlessly into a single point cloud within the capture software. The scanner automatically recognizes 3, 6, 12, and 16 mm reference targets for alignment, and the Hole Flash Capture feature simultaneously digitizes all circular and slotted holes in the field of view without manual selection — a significant time-saver on drilled and punched components.

Metrology integration and automation readiness

The ATLASCAN Max exports to standard formats (.stl, .ply, .obj, .txt, .xyz, .asc) for downstream use in Hexagon's own metrology software — Inspire, PC-DMIS, and DESIGNER — as well as third-party platforms including PolyWorks, Geomagic/Oqton, and Metrologic Group. Its 325 mm stand-off distance and 450 mm depth of field provide sufficient clearance for robotic and collaborative robot mounting, and Hexagon positions the scanner as automation-ready for inline and near-line inspection cells where the same sensor can be handheld for spot checks and robot-deployed for repeat batches.