A Laser Tracker is only as Good as its Target

A laser tracker and its target goes hand in hand. Regardless of how accurate the laser tracker is, the quality of the measurements is directly affected by the precision of the target. It is this concept of working together that sets laser trackers apart from non-contact laser measurement systems. The laser tracker and its target comprise a system that together determines the tracking performance, and most importantly, the accuracy of the measurement.

The majority of laser tracker users choose a spherically mounted retroreflector (SMR) as their target. There are many different options available, with the most common being the glass panel SMR. These targets tend to have high accuracy and are also more affordable than other models. However, their one major downfall is their ability to break. These targets are fragile, and if dropped, become useless.

The answer to this problem is the break resistant SMR. Typically these targets would be more expensive and you would have to sacrifice the high accuracy you would get with a glass panel target. However, a new line of SMRs has been released that has an accuracy that is equal to or better than a traditional glass panel SMR, while having the added advantage of being break resistant. They also come at a lower cost that before – some are even less than a traditional glass panel SMR. These targets contain a single element retroreflector with a gold coating. Since the retroreflector is constructed of a single element, there are no separate glass panels that can shift or break over time.

Learn more about these new laser tracker targets, including the World’s Most Accurate Break Resistant SMR.