More On the FARO-Trimble Partnership

The FARO-Trimble partnership announced earlier this year has paved the way for Trimble to distribute FARO laser scanners through its global network (coverage here and here).

FARO has always been an advocate for the democratization of measurement and 3D imaging technology. Like FARO, Trimble has served their customers for over 30 years by delivering leading technologies that solve measurement challenges. By partnering with Trimble, industries like civil engineering, surveying and transportation – industries where Trimble has a well-established brand – will benefit from increased access to FARO-built products. Trimble has achieved great success in these particular markets, so they’ll work to put FARO scanners (re-branded under an OEM agreement as the TrimbleTX5) in the hands of many more new users.

The agreement also means that FARO can forge deeper relationships in the many markets that we will continue to serve directly or through our own family of distributors, including forensics, architecture, insurance, entertainment and gaming, petrochemical, historical preservation, manufacturing and industrial measurement. FARO also adds greater emphasis on the development of complete scanning solutions –hardware, software, training, and other solutions that work together to improve customers’ workflows. The recently-announced FARO 3D App Center is one example of how FARO will find new ways to make use of 3D data.

True democratization of 3D imaging technology is closer than ever thanks to FARO’s OEM agreement with Trimble. More scanning users and solutions will be good for everyone, especially the customers FARO and Trimble serve. This partnership puts more scanners into the hands of more people, creates new opportunities for FARO to develop stacks of products and services, and ultimately creates a larger community of users who will learn and exchange ideas with one another. 

Recapping Autodesk University

Three Things We Loved About the AU Keynote

Autodesk 2012 has come and gone, but the conference continues to generate buzz around the products and people that helped make it a success. Here are three things that caught our eye last Tuesday:

1. The Future of Making Things

The conference kicked off last Tuesday with a keynote speech from, among others, 12-year-old engineer Schuyler St. Leger , who greeted CEO Carl Bass on stage before demonstrating his self-built and LED-adorned lab coat. Like the Doogie Houser of design, Schuyler talked about design in the 21^st century through the prism of a middle school maker. St. Leger covered the history of invention – think Da Vinci and Edison – and the significance of 3D printing for future designers looking to make new things more quickly and less expensively. It’s encouraging to see such a young person talk so enthusiastically about making things, and impressive that he can do it in front of 8,000 strangers. Schuyler’s generation is the next generation of makers, and they were on full display at AU.

A View From the Cheap Seats at AU 2012

2. 3D Printers and the Global Conglomerates Who Love Them

3D printing also took a more prominent role in this year’s AU conference. Although still in its infancy, the technology has been gaining traction in the manufacturing marketplace and should someday replace CNC and Waterjet machines as the process of choice for fabricators. Moreover, 3D printers are enabling a democratization of design, where even the aforementioned Schuyler St. Leger can create new products in almost no time. Christine Furstoss, general manager of technology at General Electric discussed in her keynote how manufacturing technology is enabling design, rather than materials dictating how and what technologies we use to manipulate them. “We’re in a materials inflationary environment,” explained Furstoss. “We must innovate differently to grow.” One goal for GE, Furstoss explained, is to 3D print a working engine within the next 3 years (see it here).

3. Cloud is King

Tuesday’s keynote was dominated by CEO Carl Bass and Autodesk 360, the company’s cloud-based suite of tools meant to make project sharing easier. The idea of Autodesk in the cloud is nothing new, but this year’s BIM 360, PLM 360, mobile-friendly apps like Sketchbook (like a virtual napkin for scribbling ideas) and Autodesk 123D show that the technology has matured beyond simply online storage. With this new suite of products, Autodesk is taking steps to create a virtual workspace and enable online collaboration in almost every type of design and build project – from consumer products to skyscrapers.

FARO Introduces New 3D App Center

Online Exchange Makes Development, Sharing of Focus3D Applications Easier Than Ever

FARO Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: FARO), the world’s most trusted source for 3D measurement has unveiled the FARO 3D App Center, the company’s new online exchange for Focus3D software applications. Through the 3D App Center, Focus3D users and software developers can download and share purpose-built apps to meet specific scanning challenges.

The FARO 3D App Center reduces costs and simplifies workflows by replacing expensive software packages that perform tasks users may never need.  Instead, customers can access and download FARO software apps built specifically to resolve their particular scanning challenges, such as surface or volume calculations. The result is lower operating cost and an assurance that scanning professionals have the FARO software they need, for the tasks they perform, each and every time.

FARO’s 3D App Center also provides a forum for software developers to create and share their own apps with the laser scanning world. Now, third-parties and other software companies can reach Focus3D customers directly, with apps tailored to meet their needs. All third-party apps are thoroughly tested and approved by the FARO team before making their way to the 3D App Center for download.

The all-new FARO 3D App Center is available now at http://3d-app-center.faro.com.

Preserving History

Tutuveni: Documenting Endangered Hopi Sites in 3D

A team from Cyark, a non-profit organization dedicated to documenting historical sites around the world, is working to preserve the memory of an important art of the Hopi Native American Culture. 

Tutuveni, located between Mesa and Flagstaff in Central Arizona, boasts more than 5,000 Hopi clan symbols that were inscribed during the ceremonial pilgrimage to Ongtupqa, or the Grand Canyon, which is for many Hopi the point of their people’s emergence into the world. Unfortunately, vandalism over the past 20 years has severely damaged the petroglyphs carved into rock faces throughout the site. 

The site is so important to the Hopi that Tutuveni has been added to the World Monuments Fund Watch list, a designation that places it alongside Machu Picchu in Peru, Afghanistan's Bamiyan Valley and other endangered sites. 

Today, Cyark representatives are working to recreate Tutuveni digitally, should it one day be lost to vandalism and decay. This involved creating an enclosure for the grounds, spanning more than 6,000 square meters, to protect it from further damage. The team them utilizes laser scanners to collect point cloud data of the rock features. 

The results of the Cyark project may be found on the project site. Galleries, 3D models and panoramic photos of the glyphs can all be accesses here. Take some time too to view this video for more details. 


     

Ready for Autodesk 2012?

Two Reasons (of many) to Catch AU This Year.  

Held each year in Las Vegas, Autodesk University (AU) is the premier event for Autodesk users. If you own or operate Revit, AutoCAD, Maya or other Autodesk product, you really need to be here.  

This year, AU heads to the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino for three days of learning, hands-on demonstrations and speeches from thoughts leaders throughout the world of 3D. The highlight of the event is the Cage Match, a battle between leading designers and engineers, who square off to debate important issues of the day. It's a rowdy and entertaining, yet informative show that you really should see. And as Autodesk themselves will tell you...there's free drinks for all. If you're going to Vegas and you're going to AU, don't miss the Cage Match, Wednesday, November 28 @ 9PM.

Autodesk University also includes an impressive trade show, in which leading software and hardware providers can showcase their wares. FARO will be on-hand, of course, demonstrating our Focus3D and ScanArm solutions. Find us in booth #737. 

Click here for more information on Autodesk University 2012. 

FARO Unveils Updated Laser Scan Processing Software

FARO Technologies today announced SCENE 5.1, the latest update to the software for the FARO Focus3D Laser Scanner. New features like Clipping Box and improved scan positioning help streamline data and cut processing time in half. Orthophoto functionality allows users to save scans as photo files to view and share scan data even without point cloud software.

Among many new features found in SCENE 5.1, Clipping Box helps users streamline data analysis by keeping only the parts of scans that are relevant to the project. With this latest enhancement, scan data is presented in either point cloud or realistic photo view. Users choose those portions of the scan they need and the remaining parts are seamlessly and automatically removed. The optimized scan provides data the user wants, without extraneous data that makes analysis time-consuming. A reduced file size makes storage or export to CAD quick and simple.   

Large scanning projects often call for multiple scans and extensive post-processing. To reduce work time, SCENE 5.1 offers powerful feature recognition capabilities that position and assemble individual scans quickly, even when there are no registration marks or pre-defined targets. The result is an up to 50 percent reduction in processing time and a more precise finished product. SCENE 5.1 also includes the ability to save orthophotos in a TIFF format, so scans can now be viewed even if the user’s CAD software is unable to interpret point cloud data. 

In partnership with 3DConnexion, a leading manufacturer of peripheral devices for 3D navigation and motion control applications, FARO has also made available the new 3D SpaceMouse. Specially designed for scanning applications, the SpaceMouse enables quick manipulation of three-dimensional data, scans and much more.

Manufacturers Have a Hard Time Finding Workers, but Workers Can't Fine Work. Where's the Disconnect?

Bloomberg today reports about a widening gap between the skilled workers that manufacturers like Caterpillar need and the availability of such workers in the labor pool.  Increasingly, high school grads are opting for college degrees and against the advanced manufacturing jobs (and in some cases, the NOT so advanced manufacturing jobs) that help propel many U.S. manufacturers. 

The scarcity of labor resources is leading to a boon in wages for welders, fabricators and others who have chosen the manufacturing route. The U.S. labor department reports more than 3 million open private sector jobs since November...with more to come.

Check out the report here. What does this shift away from skilled labor mean for U.S. manufacturing industry? Could a trade certification be the MBA of the 21st Century? Let us know. 

Fisker Looking for Alliances to Share Costs and Technology

The AP Reports today (10/2) that Anaheim-bases Fisker Automotive is searching for partners in the auto industry, with whom the fledgling, hybrid car maker would share some of its trade secrets, but also its escalating development costs. 

Fisker and its sporty Karma has been a favorite of the eco-conscious high-end consumer (think Leonardo DiCaprio) since first entering the market in 2007. Now, with development costs skyrocketing ahead of a rumored IPO, Fisker is hoping to parlay their advanced knowledge of hybrid batteries (Karmas can travel up to 40 miles on a charge, event at high speeds) into a partnership with a more established auto company to reduce costs. 

A Karma will set the average consumer back over $100k. Tesla, a competing California-based plug-in hybrid producer, has had success forming partnerships with Toyota and Daimler AG. By doing so, Tesla reduced their costs to the point where a mid-range offering, cars selling in the mid-$50k range, became feasible. 

Our question: What does this say about the future of green auto technology? About the U.S. auto industry in general? The barriers to entry in the industry are steep, and market leaders like Toyota and GM are so entrenched, it may be impossible for start-ups here implement any sort of profitable cost structure. No doubt, demand for these autos is strong. How soon before we see more consolidation in this space and true daily-drivers, priced in the low-to-mid $20s, with plug-in capabilities?  

Corvette Racing Sweeps ALMS GT Championships with VIR 240 Victory

Pratt & Miller uses a FARO Edge to inspect a part.

Congratulations to the Corvette Racing and Pratt & Miller teams on a hard-fought win in Virginia on Saturday. 

Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner won the American Le Mans Series GT Drivers Championship with a victory today in the VIR 240 at Virginia International Raceway. Their fourth victory in nine races clinched the GT Manufacturer Championship for Chevrolet and wrapped up the GT Team Championship for Corvette Racing.

"This is the kind of day you hope for – a perfect race, a great race car, the right pit calls, and no drama," said Milner. "I got my start in professional sports car racing at VIR, so to get my first championship here in my home state of Virginia is very special. I can't say enough for Oliver and the Corvette Racing crew; they've been best friends from the day that I arrived. Just a great day!"

Gavin avoided trouble in a chaotic start and took the lead at 42 minutes into the four-hour race. A well-timed pit stop at the one-hour mark put the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R in control with Milner taking the two middle stints. Gavin then drove the final hour and crossed the finish line with a 19.5-second margin of victory over the second-place No. 45 Porsche.

"There is no better way to crown 60 years of Corvette production than by winning the ALMS GT Manufacturer Championship," said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President for Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "This achievement is the result of a tremendous effort by the entire Chevrolet team. Start with a high-performance platform from the Corvette production group, add power, durability and efficiency developed by GM Powertrain, perfect the package with the engineering expertise of Corvette Racing, put exceptional drivers behind the wheel, and then go head-to-head with world-class competition in the most intense road racing series on the planet. Corvette Racing's championship season reflects Chevrolet's commitment to winning on the race track and in the showroom."

Read the rest of the story here...

FARO, Trimble Sign OEM and Distribution Agreement

FARO and Trimble made public some very important news this week, as each side announced that Trimble would become an official reseller of FARO's industry-leading Focus3D Laser Scanner. By agreeing to distribute the Focus, Trimble acquires access to one of the most advanced laser scanners on the market. FARO gains access to a large network of Trimble distributors who have been primed and ready to sell into the many markets that the Focus3D serves.

It's an exciting time here at FARO, and this is one more example of how we're making inroads into new markets in our continued effort to democratize 3D measurement. Here's the release:

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 31, 2012—Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) and FARO (NASDAQ: FARO) announced today that they have signed an OEM and distribution agreement for 3D laser scanners. Under the agreement, FARO will provide Trimble with an OEM differentiated product based upon its successful FARO Laser Scanner Focus^3D platform. Trimble will offer the OEM product throughout its worldwide survey and building construction distribution networks, serving the needs of surveyors, contractors, engineers and geospatial professionals...

Read the rest...

FARO is Hitting the Road for a Twelve-City Summer Tour

FARO announced today the FARO Tour 2012, a series of 12 open houses featuring the company’s popular Paul Jr. Designs Motorcycle and all-new Vantage Laser Tracker. The tour begins at IMTS in Chicago, September 10-15, and continues to 11 other venues throughout the U.S. It is the first such tour for FARO and its motorcycle, and will be the best chance for the general public to receive hands-on demonstrations of the company’s newest laser tracker, the Vantage.

Featured on the Discovery Channel series, American Chopper, Senior vs. Junior, the FARO bike was designed and built by Paul Jr. Designs to celebrate FARO’s 30^th Anniversary. Paul Teutul Jr. personally delivered the chopper to FARO’s Lake Mary, FL headquarters in early 2011 and since then, it has gained tremendous popularity for its unique style and power. “FARO is so proud of this bike. It looks great and people love it,” said David Morse, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for FARO Americas. “We want to take the chopper out on the road and bring it right to our customers and potential customers so they can appreciate it up close. And, while they’re here, we’ll show attendees time and money-saving techniques that they can take back to work with them.”

Following IMTS, the FARO Tour 2012 will move to venues like Andretti Green in Indianapolis, Pratt & Miller Engineering outside of Detroit and the Museum of Flight in Seattle. It’s the perfect chance for attendees to see FARO’s bike, the all-new Vantage and other FARO solutions up close, and hear from other professionals who use FARO solutions every day. Sessions are open to the general public, free to attend and include lunch and coffee. Attendees are eligible for prize drawings and specials on FARO warranties and equipment.

For more information and to reserve a space at a FARO Tour 2012 event near you, visit www.faro.com/farotour. 

Does Strong Auto Sector Performance Suggest a Manufacturing Renaissance?

...let's hope so.

Today, Chrysler, unhampered and seemingly unaffected by European debt woes posted strong Q2 earnings of $436 million. It's a sharp departure from last year at this time, when the auto giant reported a $370 million loss for the period. 


The New York Times (7/31, Chapman) reports that Chrysler's distinct lineup and new designs are what propelled the car maker forward. Similarly, the hometown Detroit News (7/31, Hoffman) offers that it is Chrysler's variation in autos - and move away from gas-guzzling pickups and SUVs - that have led to increased domestic sales. 


With no bailout dollars left, and none on the horizon, U.S. auto manufacturers are left to stand on their own and to depend on their operating models to be successful. Numbers like these are not unusual in American industry these days, despite flagging GDP numbers. Recall that only yesterday, we saw positive Q2 numbers from Boeing (7/30, Team), too. 


So, with positive earnings reports from Chrysler, Boeing and others, is this what an American manufacturing renaissance looks like? You tell us. One thing's for sure, FARO is ready...we hope you are too. 

Thanks for Attending the 2012 CMSC Ice Breaker

A crowd of over 300 engineers, quality control professionals and software developers was treated to an exclusive first look at FARO's all-new Vantage Laser Tracker last Monday. Unveiled by FARO CEO, Jay Freeland, the Vantage drew applause on looks alone (it's really, really small) and was the talk of CMSC 2012 for the rest of the week. We're thankful to those that joined us in New Orleans to debut FARO's newest innovation. 

If you weren't on-hand to see the Vantage in person, click here for more information. 

Boeing, United Airlines to Strike Huge Deal Worth Over $9 Billion

Great news today for Boeing as United Airlines has announced their intent to acquire at least 100 - and maybe up to 200 - 777 aircraft in a deal that could eventually be worth over $9 billion. Recall that, last year, Airbus secured a sales of 260 aircraft to AMR. 

What does this say about the outlook for the airline industry or, perhaps more importantly, American manufacturing? 

Read the full story here.

OECD Report: US Losing Its Edge In Innovation

IndustryWeek (6/27, Cable) reports, "The United States is losing its edge in innovation, and needs to implement strong pro-innovation policies as well as education reform 'to maintain its status as the world's most vibrant and productive economy.'" That is "the conclusion of the latest 'Economic Survey of the United States' by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, which asserts that 'fissures have begun to appear' in US innovation." Among the recommendations in the "report, the organization asserts that 'reductions in the federal R&D budget should be as limited as possible.'" The report "also urges federal policymakers to build on the America Invents Act 'by ensuring that the legal standards for granting injunctive relief and damages awards for patent infringement reflect realistic business practices and the relative contributions of patented components of complex products.'" 

Summer Camp In Indiana Promotes Science, Technology To Middle Schools Students

The Evansville (IN) Courier & Press (6/20, Osowski) reports on the iEngineering 2.0 Summer Experience at the Southern Indiana Career & Technical Center in Evansville. The two-week camp is designed to promote science, math and engineering to middle school students. "The kids are learning soldering, they've had robot competitions," Andy Beadles, an instructor at SICTC said. "They're also learning programming, laser cutting, casting processes and computer numeric controls." 

Le Mans Kicks Off This Weekend

Only six days left until one of the biggest races on the international Grand Prix circuit and once again, the FARO-sponsored Pratt & Miller Corvette remains a favorite to take the checkered flag. Each year in June, the world's best drivers gather in Le Mans, France for the most difficult endurance test in racing. Over the next day, drivers will test themselves and their cars as they race around the nearly 8.5 mile track, stopping only to switch drivers and refuel.


Want to read more about FARO's involvement with Pratt & Miller? Read the full story here. 

Canadian Government Increasingly Focusing On Oil, Mineral Exports.

The Washington Post (6/4, Eilperin) reports that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been "rewriting the nation's environmental laws to speed the extraction and export of oil, minerals and other materials to a global market clamoring for Canada's natural resources." During the six years Harper has been prime minister, increasing mineral and oil prices and greater "demand from Asia" mean Canada has "new incentive to tap into its resources, and new technology has made extraction easier." According to Canadian spokesman for the US Christopher Plunkett, "The idea is simple and straightforward: to make Canada the most attractive country in the world for resource investment and development, and to enhance our world-class protection of the environment today for future generations of Canadians." 

Is This an American Manufacturing Renaissance?

An emerging renaissance in American manufacturing is staring at the oncoming threat of a global economic slowdown.

After investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in high tech equipment last year, Drew Greenblatt’s manufacturing business is beginning to see a return on that investment. Business was up 20 percent in 2011 at Marlin Steel, which makes wire baskets for industrial customers.

Exports are helping a lot. Greenblatt’s company just shipped to China a $20,000 order made at his Baltimore, Md., factory with steel supplied by a mill in Illinois....

Read The Rest Here...

Are We Witnessing a Renaissance in American Manufacturing?


Bloomberg News (5/17, Woellert) reports, "Motor vehicles sales in the first quarter that were the strongest in four years have buoyed manufacturing, helping make up for a slowdown in corporate equipment purchases. While US exports accelerated during the first three months of 2012, weaker economies in Europe and parts of Asia remain a hurdle for American factories."


but that's not all...


IndustryWeek (5/17, Minter) reports, "While industrial production was up, economists warned that there were signs that the manufacturing rebound was starting to weaken." Cliff Waldman, senior economist for the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation, "noted that primary metals, which supplies many goods-producing sectors, only gained 0.1% in April and contracted by 2.5% in March. The machinery sector had gains in March and April but lost steam last month. And the nondurables sector had a decline in output in April."

Click any of the links above to be taken to the story. 

AVEVA and LFM: Proud sponsors of the 3D Documentation Conference

AVEVA is very proud to announce that we will be exhibiting at the FARO 3D Documentation Conference in Orlando, FL. Attending this important event follows the signing of an interoperability agreement between AVEVA and FARO in December 2011 and AVEVA’s acquisition of the LFM Software business from Z+F GmbH in October 2011.
Read More...

Cheaper Natural Gas Helps US Manufacturers Compete Globally.

The AP reported, "The price of natural gas is plummeting at a pace that has caught even the experts off guard." A 35 percent fall "in the futures price over the past year has been a boon to homeowners who use natural gas for heat and appliances and to manufacturers who power their factories and make chemicals and materials with it." The AP reported, "For companies that make plastics, fertilizer and other chemicals derived from natural gas, the falling prices are nothing short of a windfall. The same goes for makers of products from steel to bricks to beer."