A New Philosophy in Computed Tomography

Unlike traditional industrial CT systems, which are often prohibitively expensive, bulky and designed as all-purpose laboratory tools, the COREX 250 is purpose-built for the production line. While standard systems require complex setups to handle any possible part, COREX 250 focuses on specific production needs. Instead of one oversized machine, the COREX series is available in three optimized sizes. This specialization allows for pre-defined configurations and enhanced X-ray sources tailored to the customer’s specific materials.

Unprecedented Speed and Simplicity

The COREX 250 is engineered for the shop floor, not just the laboratory. Designed for speed of operation, it can inspect rubber, plastic or carbon fibre components in 20 to 30 seconds. For denser materials like aluminium, magnesium and titanium, inspection times remain exceptionally fast at 40 to 50 seconds.

A key innovation of the COREX 250 is its on-board integrated software. Unlike traditional systems that require complex external software, the CT system handles everything internally, giving immediate results. This simplicity removes the barrier of specialized metrology training. Shop floor operators do not need to be metrologists; they simply press a button to receive accurate, easy-to-interpret results through a simplified software interface.

Three Strategic Advantages for Manufacturers

COREX 250 makes inspection of small batches profitable by slashing setup times. During a batch change, operators can inspect the first, second and third parts produced in just minutes. There is no longer a need to wait for a lab technician, as the shop floor operator is completely autonomous. This returns the line into production faster, potentially saving an hour of downtime at every format change.

The second advantage is that the speed of inspection allows high-frequency testing. The interface features an intuitive, color-coded histogram, allowing operators to see at a glance if parameters are centred within the tolerance band. This enables real-time process correction before scrap is even produced, guaranteeing that only good parts are delivered to the customer.

Finally, in sectors like automotive, aerospace and medical, where reputation is everything, COREX 250 allows companies to document and certify the quality of their components through rapidly generated reports. The professional documentation provides a high level of credibility, without the significant costs typically associated with laboratory CT scanning.

Speaking the Language of the Shop Floor

By removing the need for specialized metrology training and eliminating complex software interfaces, the COREX 250 speaks the same language as the production floor. It allows companies to increase their competitive advantage and handle high staff turnover easily, as the machine’s one-touch intelligence replaces the need for deep technical expertise.

About LK Metrology

LK Metrology is renowned for innovative metrology solutions and services. The company’s products, including coordinate measuring machines (CMM), portable measuring arms and metrology software, are used worldwide to control and improve the quality of manufactured components. Its precision technology underpins the process chain from design, development, production and assembly through to quality assurance in global industries such as automotive, aerospace, defence, motorsport, energy, medical and contract inspection.

Established in England in 1963, LK Metrology has an impressive heritage in metrology dating back to the birth of CMM technology. Founded by CMM pioneer Norman Key and his father-in-law Jim Lowther, LK Metrology is credited with many of the CMM industry’s firsts including the first bridge-type design, first OEM to integrate computers, first to use a touch trigger probe, first to develop inspection software, first to use all air bearings and granite guideways, first to use carbon fibre composite spindles, first to use microprocessor-controlled drive systems, first to produce a truly thermally stable CMM and first to produce a high-accuracy horizontal-spindle CMM.

In 2018, LK Metrology was relaunched as an independent CMM manufacturer after several years as a division of Nikon Metrology. Headquartered in the UK, LK’s CMM development and production are at the company’s facility in Castle Donington. Sales and support offices are located in the UK, North America, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and China, supplemented by a worldwide distributor network.

With the integration of OptoSurf’s robust, high-accuracy technology, Mahr now provides an ideal complement to its existing measurement systems, enabling surface parameter evaluation with exceptional speed and reliability, even in demanding production environments.

Expanded Scattered Light Product Portfolio: The MarSurf3D Family

MarSurf3D Sensor OS 500: Designed for grinding or finishing machines, rollers, steel sheets, and roller bearings, the OS 500 scattered light sensor can be fully integrated into machine control systems for direct, inline measurement. The sensor delivers extremely fast, precise, low-maintenance operation and supports remote control. Included software enables evaluation of roughness and waviness, with the 8 kHz version ideal for large surface measurements such as rollers.

MarSurf3D OptoRack: Specially developed for monitoring grinding and finishing processes in racks and ball screw drives used to convert rotary motion into longitudinal motion—critical for applications such as machine tools and steering systems where efficiency, wear, and possible noise development depend heavily on the surface quality of the ball tracks. The OptoRack measuring machine features a swivel axis that allows the sensor to measure roughness and waviness separately on paths to the right and left of the pressure point of the raceways at any point on the spindle.

MarSurf3D OptoWorm: Engineered for precision monitoring of worm gear machining, particularly in electric power steering systems, the OptoWorm enables measurement of the complete functional surface of both the left and right worm flanks, meeting the extremely high surface quality demands required for optimal performance.

MarSurf3D OptoShaft: Developed for real-time monitoring of bearing seat grinding and finishing, the OptoShaft detects waviness with amplitudes below 0.05 μm, preventing noise caused by chatter marks. Its robust scattered light sensor allows use directly adjacent to production machinery.

“The addition of OptoSurf’s scattered light metrology to our MarSurf3D scattered light portfolio marks a major step toward the future of high-precision manufacturing,” said John Roberts, Vice President Sales Americas/Executive Director at Mahr Inc. “Our customers now have access to a broader range of industry-leading solutions, capable of delivering unmatched surface measurement accuracy, efficiency, and reliability in the harshest production environments.”

With the new MarSurf3D scattered light portfolio, Mahr reinforces its commitment to innovation, precision, and customer success, providing manufacturers with the tools they need to optimize quality, reduce defects, and increase productivity.

About Mahr Inc.

When customers are faced with a metrology need, they turn to Mahr Inc., for unmatched industry expertise. Mahr Inc.’s knowledgeable, experienced team has made the company a leader in precision measurement for more than a century.

Mahr Inc., a member of the Mahr Group, has been providing dimensional measurement solutions to fit customer application needs for more than 160 years. The company manufactures and markets a wide variety of dimensional metrology equipment, from simple and easy-to-use handheld gages to technically advanced measurement systems for form, contour, surface finish and length. Mahr Inc. is also well known as a producer of custom-designed gages and a provider of calibration and contract measurement services. Mahr Inc.’s calibration laboratories are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 NVLAP Lab Code 200605-0 (see our Scope of Accreditation for accredited calibration processes).

LK’s advanced, ceramic materials for the beam and spindle guideways, which provide near-perfect stiffness-to-weight ratio, have been combined with a robust structure to deliver consistent accuracy and repeatable results in the order of 3 µm. Low gap, high-efficiency air bearings and zero-hysteresis drive systems ensure unmatched quality and low maintenance.

The MAXIMA series offers the largest measurement volume on the market, from 12 to 72 cubic meters, of any CMM with a granite table. Its high capacity provides outstanding stability, ensuring the machine maintains peak performance even when supporting the heaviest workpieces. Included in the range are 28 models in six table lengths from nominally three up to eight meters and seven variants of bridge cross section up to three meters.

Complementing this offering, the MAXIMA R range features an innovative, twin-rail design engineered for heavyweight workpieces. The structure enables safe and efficient loading of heavy components on the floor and seamless integration with automated transfer systems. A key advantage of these models is that the design eliminates the need for special foundations, while offering exceptional stability, simplified installation and outstanding cost efficiency. The MAXIMA R is available in the same range of sizes as the table-type models.

Both new CMM product lines are equipped with a powerful LK controller and are available in several configurations: either probe-ready for tactile inspection and laser scanning using a PH10MQ Plus multi-sensor indexing probe head with autojoint, or in ScanTek configuration with a multi-sensor REVO2 head to provide 5-axis scanning, or with an SP80 ultra-accurate fixed scanning head with probe builds up to one metre. The PH10MQ-ready models feature a multiwire cable that supports both SLK and L/LC/XC laser scanner technologies, eliminating the need for a separate probe-ready configuration for each type.

The introduction of the MAXIMA and MAXIMA R ranges reinforces LK Metrology’s commitment to providing market-leading, multi-sensor solutions for the most challenging metrology applications globally. The machines fulfil a critical need by combining high-precision build at the firm’s Castle Donington factory in Derbyshire, UK with very substantial measuring envelopes, providing a reliable and accurate solution for large-scale inspection requirements in manufacturing.

About LK Metrology

LK Metrology is renowned for innovative metrology solutions and services. The company’s products, including coordinate measuring machines (CMM), portable measuring arms and metrology software, are used worldwide to control and improve the quality of manufactured components. Its precision technology underpins the process chain from design, development, production and assembly through to quality assurance in global industries such as automotive, aerospace, defence, motorsport, energy, medical and contract inspection.

Established in England in 1963, LK Metrology has an impressive heritage in metrology dating back to the birth of CMM technology. Founded by CMM pioneer Norman Key and his father-in-law Jim Lowther, LK Metrology is credited with many of the CMM industry’s firsts including the first bridge-type design, first OEM to integrate computers, first to use a touch trigger probe, first to develop inspection software, first to use all air bearings and granite guideways, first to use carbon fibre composite spindles, first to use microprocessor-controlled drive systems, first to produce a truly thermally stable CMM and first to produce a high-accuracy horizontal-spindle CMM.

In 2018, LK Metrology was relaunched as an independent CMM manufacturer after several years as a division of Nikon Metrology. Headquartered in the UK, LK’s CMM development and production are at the company’s facility in Castle Donington. Sales and support offices are located in the UK, North America, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and China, supplemented by a worldwide distributor network.

Engineered for medical devices, electronics, aerospace, and precision manufacturing, this system combines Keyence’s LJ-X8020 3D scanner with the TMX-5006 profile measurement platform, delivering non-contact, automated inspection for both geometrical profiles and surface quality.

Applications include: 

• Fuel injector nozzles and micro fasteners
• Medical hypodermics, catheters, stents, and guidewires
• Biomedical textiles and microtubes
• Precision nozzles for inkjet and spray devices
• Optical fibers, glass tips, and other ultra-fine components

“Our LTX system brings together advanced 3D scanning and profile measurement technologies into a single, operator-friendly platform,” said Todd E. Lizotte, CEO and co-founder of Bold Laser Automation.

“It not only accelerates inspection but also provides the accuracy and reliability manufacturers across industries need to improve yield and meet demanding quality standards— from complex aerospace nozzles to precision medical devices,” he added.

Key Features & Benefits 

• Simple, Dual-Station Design: Performs 3D contamination detection and precision profile measurement using rotary and linear stages.
• Ease of Operation: Footswitch or push-button control acquires and stores measurements; optional touchscreen interface available.
• Integrated Software: Custom Bold Integration Suite with Keyence LJX & TMX software, offering real-time data storage, CSV/Excel export, and QA/QC reporting.
• • Automation Ready: Semi-automated fixturing with soft-lock part handling supports integration and future, fully automated, production environments.

• Compliance & Safety: Built to UL, NFPA 79, and OSHA standards with enclosed design, seismic mounts, LED safety indicators, and comprehensive documentation.

The LTX1260A combines an ergonomic design with robust automation elements. With real time data capture, integration with customer databases, and modular scalability, the system provides manufacturers with a path to higher throughput, consistent QA, and reduced risk of defects.

About Bold Laser Automation

Bold Laser Automation, Inc., specializes in advanced laser solutions for precision cutting, welding, measuring, and inspection applications. With a focus on high-performance, reliability, cost effectiveness, and customer satisfaction, Bold solutions are trusted by industry leaders worldwide.

The EZ-SmartTower enables machine shops to seamlessly monitor and analyze production data of up to 30 machines from a single, centralized computer. With its modular and scalable design, the solution integrates effortlessly with CNC lathes, mills, and other machinery. It accurately logs machine cycle counts, records idle, cycle, and error times for spindle efficacy tracking, and captures operator, machine, and part data for comprehensive analytics.

Real-time monitoring is made easy with LED indicators displaying current cycle and idle times, while WiFi connectivity enables data transfer in real time. The leveraging of real-time data helps to reduce bottlenecks, improve spindle utilization, and enhance overall efficiency.

Through easy-to-use and free EZ-SmartTower software, users can generate reports in charts or Excel format for detailed analysis, providing valuable insights into shop performance and operational trends. Data in the App is internal to machine shop users and NOT transferred or stored over the cloud which is important for the security of the data.

While real-time machine status updates allow operators to make on-the-fly informed decisions to enhance workflow efficiency; data-driven insights help track performance and provide employee incentives based on productivity metrics. Ultimately, the analysis of machine and operator performance empower the cost-effective measurement of machine throughput. The EZ-SmartTower enables in-depth bottleneck identification, so machine shops can minimize downtime, maximize machine utilization, and optimize processes.

“In today’s business climate, maximizing shop efficiency is essential. The EZ-SmartTower will allow manufacturers to harness the power of machine data and streamline their ROI analysis,” said Michael Ricketts, Product Manager – Automation at Lyndex-Nikken. “This allows manufacturers to optimize their operations, drive profitability, and be more competitive.”

The PGA-1000 Air Gage stands as Sunnen’s first dedicated entry into the benchtop air gage market, representing a significant evolution beyond its established lines of dial bore, PG, and PGE mechanical gages. Customers familiar with Sunnen’s in-process air gaging will appreciate this new standalone solution, which offers greater flexibility and broadens Sunnen’s comprehensive metrology portfolio. The addition of air gaging positions Sunnen as an even more complete provider of dimensional metrology solutions, appealing to a wider range of customer needs and solidifying Sunnen’s presence in this critical market segment.

At the heart of the PGA-1000 is an intuitive 5-inch color touchscreen designed for easy setup and measurement. Operators benefit from real-time quality monitoring and statistical process control capabilities, with data storage and export options available via USB or direct PC connection, simplifying quality control documentation and traceability. Adaptability is inherent throughout the PGA-1000, with standard changeable orifices to support different air probe types, front-mounted probe connections for fast and error-free setup, and options for vertical probe stands, hose adapters, I/O modules, and foot pedals to customize the system for specific shop requirements and operator ergonomics.

Durability and reliability are assured by the PGA-1000’s rugged housing and precision filter regulator, which ensure stable performance even in demanding production environments. The design is fully compatible with both metric and inch measurement units, facilitating easy integration into a range of user and industry contexts. Innovative optional features, such as air-saving functions and temperature modules, further enhance operating efficiency and help compensate for environmental factors, leading to greater result reliability.

The PGA-1000 offers a variety of display modes, including numerical, bargraph, analog, and tolerance/historic curves, enabling flexible data visualization to match diverse inspection scenarios and operator preferences.

With the launch of the PGA-1000 Air Gage, Sunnen Products Company becomes a bold new challenger in benchtop air gaging, underpinned by the trusted expertise of their dedicated support team. Sunnen’s long-standing reputation for quality in precision manufacturing assures users of the reliability, flexibility, and innovation they expect from leaders in dimensional metrology, while offering new options and increased confidence for their measurement needs.

About Sunnen Products Company

Sunnen Products Company, a global leader in precision manufacturing for over a century, has established itself as a premier provider in the creation, sizing, and finishing of machined surfaces. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Sunnen is a “total solutions provider,” manufacturing everything from machinery and abrasives to precision bore gages and customized coolants. This comprehensive approach enables Sunnen to deliver turnkey honing solutions that encompass cutting-edge equipment, tooling, consumables, and coolants. The company’s expertise spans a diverse range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, energy, hydraulics, medical, firearms & defense, and tool & die, showcasing its versatility and commitment to innovation. Sunnen’s dedication to quality is evident in its products, which exemplify the company’s focus on high efficiency, precision, and advanced technology. With a worldwide presence and a track record of building thousands of honing machines, Sunnen continues to drive innovation in bore sizing and finishing, providing tailored solutions to meet the exacting demands of modern manufacturing across diverse sectors.

Measurement Simplified
Developed with a clear goal — to make measurements simple, fast, and reliable — RUN systems integrate seamlessly into production workflows. Linear motors guarantee maintenance-free operation, eliminating the need for air supply or lubrication, and ensuring long-term reliability even in challenging environments.

Ease of Use, Built In
Ease of operation is at the heart of RUN’s design.
The Easy Runner interface allows operators to load and execute inspection programs with a single touch, while the moving table and optional clamping kit ensure quick and ergonomic part handling. Robot integration is facilitated by the moving table structure: both portal and measuring head are always out of the moving range, increasing safety during set up procedures and allowing faster part loading. Switching from one part to another takes only seconds also for the operator — simply scan a barcode to load a new program, and the machine performs measurement and reporting automatically.

Precision That Lasts
RUN systems include advanced features that enhance performance and longevity, such as:
• Automatic stylus cleaning unit

• Active anti-vibration granite base with pneumatic dampers

These elements guarantee accuracy and repeatability, even under real shopfloor conditions.

From Inspection to Optimization
Designed for both end-of-line control and in-process verification, RUN delivers immediate measurement data to help manufacturers prevent deviations, reduce scraps, and shorten setup times.
Integrated CAD import and GD&T analysis provide complete insight into part geometry, ensuring compliance with specifications and accelerating process improvement.

A Smarter Kind of CMM
With RUN, Ready expands the concept of what a CMM can be — a flexible, intelligent tool for every production team. It’s not just a measurement system, but a production resource — transforming metrology from a back-end validation step into an active driver of manufacturing performance.

About Ready

Ready is a next-generation brand in industrial metrology, developing accessible and production-ready measurement systems for manufacturing environments. Its technologies combine precision engineering with practical design to empower teams where it matters most — on the shopfloor.

A software enhancement and five hardware enhancements are available as optional upgrades to the XT V Series, allowing customers to customize their systems based on their specific application requirements.

Software Enhancement:

• High Contrast Filter 2.0: Offers consistently clear imaging that ensures defects are visible immediately, for any combination of sample shape and density.

Hardware Enhancements: 

• Heavy Duty Tray: Enables larger, heavier parts to be scanned. Operators can scan more parts in each batch and expand inspection capabilities.
• Diamond Window: Delivers improved image contrast across the operating range, particularly beneficial for low-density and mixed-material samples, resulting in less noise and faster scans.
• Low-Dose Collimator: Protects radiation-sensitive electronics, minimizing dose to sensitive parts such as semiconductor devices while enabling safe inspection of larger batches.
• ESD Safety Upgrade: Provides ESD-safe inspection of sensitive electronic components to IEC 6100-4-2, ANSI/ESD S20.20, and JEDEC JESD625 standards when installed in an ESD-Protected Area (EPA), allowing for confident integration into ESD-safe processes.
• High Magnification CT Arm: Enables higher magnification CT scans for small samples, allowing operators to see finer details than previously possible.

The XT V Series continues to excel in electronics inspection applications, including PCBs, BGAs, chips, and semiconductor devices. The systems maintain their market-leading Xi microfocus X-ray sources and powerful image enhancement capabilities, while the new enhancements provide additional value for customers across electronics manufacturing, semiconductor production, and quality control environments.

Key Features

• High-definition / high-level color reproducibility / high frame rate
  When combined with industrial microscopes (FN16), the Digital Sight 100 delivers 6.5-megapixel resolution (2944×2208 pixels), ensuring clear capture of fine structural details and rich color information. The camera alone delivers 17.7-megapixel resolution and supports wide-field imaging up to 4864 x 3648 pixels (FN25).
• Works on multiple device interfaces
  As it is compatible with USB 3.2, HDMI, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet, operators can flexibly operate and share information from the camera even to distant locations.

• Intuitive operability and software integration
  Operators can reduce their workloads with easy operations by using the camera with Nikon’s NIS-Elements LE software, as well as the latest versions of NIS-Elements AR/BR/D (to be released in January 2026).

The Digital Sight 100 provides excellent comfort and high-definition images for a wide range of observation methods. The combination with software makes viewing, recording, and sharing more efficient. Sales launch for the Digital Sight 100 will be January 9, 2026.

Micro-Tooling at Its Limits: Why TTE Needed a New Way to See

For more than two decades, TTE has specialized in high-performance solid carbide cutters for automotive, watchmaking, medical, fashion, and other demanding sectors. As the company expanded into micro-tools and complex custom geometries, one challenge intensified: traditional measurement tools were no longer capable of reliably capturing the ultra-sharp, highly polished, lapped geometries their customers required.

Cristiano Zecchini, Head of Production and Tool Design at TTE, has spent decades pushing the boundaries of what high-performance micro-tools can achieve. Deeply involved in both hands-on manufacturing and advanced geometry development, he understands better than most how quickly the limits of toolmaking are reached when measurement capability falls short. Reflecting on TTE’s recent innovations, he explains: “Today, we are entering new territory in micro-tooling. To compete there, you must be able to measure what others can only guess.”

Polished surfaces scatter light. Lapped edges are almost invisible to many systems. And in micro-dimensions, every deviation matters. TTE needed clarity—non-contact, repeatable 3D measurement that reveals the true edge of the tool, not a best-effort approximation.

InfiniteFocus G6: Turning Invisible Geometry into Actionable Data

The introduction of Bruker Alicona’s InfiniteFocus G6 transformed TTE’s workflow from classic inspection into data-driven design and R&D acceleration. The system’s Focus-Variation technology excels on polished, mirrored, and sharp edges—areas where conventional metrology struggles or fails entirely.

With the InfiniteFocus G6, TTE can now:

• Quantify surface roughness at micro and nano scale
• Validate cutting edge preparation
• Measure machine-lapped, high-gloss surfaces
• Capture shape fidelity in custom geometries
• Generate repeatable 3D data for every development step

Zecchini explains: “With the G6, we reached a level of accuracy that lets us design tools we couldn’t even analyze before. It opens geometries that were previously invisible to us.” This capability is especially crucial for tools used on non-ferrous materials, where surface reflectivity makes measurement notoriously com plex.

From Bottleneck to Competitive Advantage

TTE’s quality philosophy—rooted in precision, respect, and customer-centric design—aligns naturally with high-resolution optical metrology. The measurement workflows powered by Bruker Alicona now enable:

Faster Development Cycles

What once took hours now takes minutes, allowing TTE to iterate design choices rapidly. Higher Inspection Volume & Automation

With the MetMax digital metrology platform, measurements can be prepared offline or executed autono mously directly on the machine—no operator intervention required. This accelerates inspection throughput and ensures consistency across batches .

Better Customer-Specific Solutions

Over 25% of TTE’s production consists of custom tools for niche applications. Detailed 3D insights help TTE respond more quickly—and more accurately—to problems brought in by customers from healthcare to luxury goods manufacturing.

“It’s not just about measuring. It’s about learning from every tool and using that knowledge to build a better one next time.”

—Cristiano Zecchini

Quality as Strategy in a Difficult Market

In a period when many industrial players are slowing investments, TTE sends a strong signal: precision is non-negotiable. The company demonstrates that excellence—especially in micro-tooling—is a deliberate busi ness strategy that demands the right technology partners.

“For us, Alicona is not a machine. It’s a partner in our development process.”

—Cristiano Zecchini

The decision underscores a broader trend within advanced manufacturing: companies that continue to inno vate in downturns secure the strongest competitive position when markets recover.

About TTE Srl

TTE Srl, headquartered in Valmadrera, Italy, develops and manufactures high-precision solid carbide cutting tools for automotive, medical, watchmaking, fashion, and specialized industrial sectors. With over 20 years of experience and a focus on micro-tooling and custom geometries, TTE is recognized for its commitment to precision, customer collaboration, and continuous innovation.

About Bruker Alicona

Bruker Alicona is a global provider of high-resolution optical 3D metrology solutions for quality assurance in research and production. As part of the Bruker Group, the company develops advanced measurement sys tems based on Focus-Variation technology, enabling ultra-precise surface and geometry characterization of complex micro-features, polished surfaces, and sharp edges. Bruker Alicona supports leading manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, medical technology, tooling, and other high-precision industries with innovative, reliable, and repeatable metrology solutions.