ARAMIS is a powerful optical system for measurement of complex materials and structures for their 3D deformation and strain during loading. This tool is a highly robust, full-field, non-contact strain measuring testing device. The system offers a non-contact measurement of 3D deformation and strain using 3D image correlation methods (digital image correlation, DIC) using high-resolution digital CCD cameras.

The object under load is viewed by one (2D) or two (3D) high-resolution digital CCD cameras. The deformation of this structure under different load conditions is recorded by the CCD cameras and evaluated using digital image processing. The results are the 3D-coordinates, 3D displacements, the surface strain and the complete strain tensor.

Common uses include:

- Materials characterization of metallics, composites, ceramics
- Thermal Expansion Measurements
- FEM confirmation & boundary condition checking
- Fracture mechanics and Estimating stability
- Dimensioning components
- Examining non-linear deformation behavior
- Characterizing creep and aging processes
- High-speed deformation & strain measurements

ARAMIS HighSpeed is a powerful optical system for measuring the full-field dynamic behavior of complex materials and structures. The system offers a non-contact measurement of 3D coordinates, 3D deformation and strain using 3D image correlation methods (digital image correlation, DIC) using high-resolution, high-speed digital CCD cameras.

The object under load is viewed by one (2D) or two (3D) high-resolution digital CCD cameras. The deformation of this structure under different load conditions is recorded by the CCD cameras and evaluated using digital image processing. The results are the 3D-coordinates, 3D displacements, the surface strain and the complete strain tensor.

Common uses include:

- Materials characterization of metallics, composites, ceramics
- Impact, Ballistic and Blast measurements
- FEM confirmation & boundary condition checking
- Fracture mechanics and Estimating stability
- Split-Hopkinson Bar Measurements (full-field)
- Examining non-linear deformation behavior
- Taylor Series Impacts

ARGUS is a proven evaluation system for sheet metal stamping. Originally developed for the automotive industry, it is now widely used in steel and aluminum stamping factories and other institutions. ARGUS employs a PC and an industrial, digital CCD camera system. ARGUS measures the deformation of sheet metal in the stamping process, performing an automatic circle grid analysis of the entire part or areas of interest, for die verification, material forming verification and stamping lot quality control. The large number of data points and the graphic display of the results provides an easy verification of the entire shaping process.

To evaluate the stamping process, A regular dot pattern is etched onto the sheet metal surface, prior to forming. In the forming process (stamping, hydroforming, magnetoforming, etc.), this dot pattern is distorted as it deforms with the sheet, but it stays visible in spite of the forces and the frictions involved in the forming process. The shaped metal sheet is then grabbed from different views using a high resolution CCD camera. From the individual images, the evaluation software calculates the 3d-position of each dot and the relation to its neighboring points.The results are the 3d-coordinates of the dots on the sheet metal. From the differences of the dot distances the program calculates the strain and determines the forming limit diagram.

Common uses include:

- Optimizing the stamping, hydroforming or other forming process
- Estimating and optimizing multi-stroke stamping tools
- Detecting and verifying areas with critical deformations or wall thinning (hot spots)
- Verifying and optimizing numerical simulation programs for forming processes
- Assessing characteristics and quality of the material lots
- Die analysis and optimization
- 3D shape confirmation

The 3D Laser ESPI System (laser holography) measures in and out-of-plane displacements and strain very precisely using laser interferometry. It is used in a broad variety of applications from fatigue tests to general strain measurement and analysis. The interferometric method ESPI is well suited to measure the smallest 3D displacements and plane strain with resolutions of approximately 10 nanometers or 1 micrometer per meter.

The ESPI system includes a high quality digital CCD camera with computer-controlled shutter time, one or multiple laser sources, a computer controlled phase shift device, the needed optic and the needed electronic driver and the data acquisition and treatment system, integrated in the PC.
The laser light is directed onto the object under test and the camera grabs the resulting speckled image. Object deformations in the sub-micrometers range modify the image gathered by the CCD camera. Using appropriate image treatment, the difference between the two images shows up with black interference fringes (real time viewing of the actual deformation).

Common uses include:

- Deflection, strain, thermal expansion and residual stress measurements
- FEA validation
- Determining the linear behavior, even of brittle materials
- Characterizing heterogeneous materials
- Characterizing the transition range of two different materials
- Quality control of honeycomb and sandwich structures

Product development today requires a good understanding of dynamic component behavior for simulation verification, vibration analysis or the measurement of relative movements.
PONTOS delivers the dynamic, synchronized and accurate position of an unlimited number of measurement points in 3D space. The displacement of the markers can be determined, graphically visualized or exported by capturing images at different load or movement situations. Rigid body movement, object deformation or dynamic behavior of the object under load can be defined and evaluated.

The PONTOS system is a complete solution to define movements, vibrations and load-effects. It is based on the proven ARAMIS stereo camera technology. The image acquisition uses flexible triggering techniques and is linked to the load situation, including recording of analog signals. Fast harmonic and stochastic events are captured and analyzed using high speed image capturing. The rugged, mobile set up and the flexible selection of measuring areas, deliver accurate position, movement and deformation values for industrial applications, even under difficult ambient conditions.

Common uses include:

- 3D measurement of movement, deformations and vibrations
- Verification of conceptual design studies and numerical simulations
- Measuring dynamic behavior, rise and fall of structural vibrations to 250 Hz (full-frame, Nyquist criteria)
- Load, creep and aging tests including complex structures and visco-elastic elements
- Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) measurements in Automotive including wind tunnel environments
- Measurement of relative motion
- Simple measurement of dynamic gap and flush
- Alternative to accelerometers up to 250 Hz (at full-size images, faster for smaller fields)

Shearography is a variation of laser technology ESPI (holography), specifically designed for NDT applications. Shearography provides full-field, non-contact testing for rapid wide-field inspection of composites, bonded structures and other advanced materials. Shearography is an optical video strain gauge and an appropriately applied stress is used to locate strain concentrations caused by internal defects. As an example, a composite helicopter blade can be inspected in production with vacuum excitation, while it can be rapidly inspected in the field with thermal excitation from a heat source, such as a heat gun or even a hairdryer. Typically light vacuum, thermal, acoustic or mechanical loading is used. This technology is ideal for components with complex geometries and material compositions.

Common uses include:

- complex geometries, such as co-cured composites structures
- complex material composition, such as engine inlets and blades
- core structures (e.g.: honeycomb & foam)
- composite repair evaluation
- corrosion inspection
- production inspection

TRITOP is an optical coordinate measuring system.
This mobile technology is designed to define the exact 3D position of markers and visible features and offers time effective on-site measurement for quality control of large objects, verification of jigs and fixtures and static deformation analysis. The coordinates measured with a TRITOP system can be compared to CAD data of the object. From the displacement of the markers and the features, the movement and the deformation of the corresponding object is defined.

Using the photogrammetric measuring system TRITOP, the 3D coordinates of markers and object features such as corners, edges and bore-holes can be measured with high accuracy and flexibility. One only needs a high-resolution camera and a notebook computer. Additional hardware such as mechanical measuring machines, transition units, robots or large set-ups are not required.

Common uses include:

- Wind Tunnel Model Measurements
- Thermal Deformation of Large Structures
- Large Structure Deformations
- Suspension System Analysis
- Complex Movement Patterns
- Biomechanics & Kinematics