Z+F introduced the IMAGER 5006, a successor to its IMAGER 5003 that the company calls the first “standalone” laser scanner. The new model includes an integrated hard disk, control panel and battery pack that let it operate without a laptop or any other external equipment except for a tripod. The internal hard disk provides a minimum 60 Gb storage, which Z+F reports will accommodate data from two days of scanning; for optional external operation the unit has Bluetooth and Ethernet interfaces.
Range accuracy is 1mm at up to 79m range, according to Z+F managing director Dr. Christoph Fröhlich. With reported range accuracy approaching that of time-of-flight scanners but at the higher acquisition speeds of phase-based technology, the new model is likely to draw strong interest from users involved in construction applications, among others.
Z+F reports the unit also offers longer ambiguity interval (up to 79m) and higher resolution (point spacing of 1.7mm at 25m) than its predecessor, and is easier to handle and more compact (scanner and battery pack together weigh less than 14kg).
Early production units are currently being tested in the field; the product is expected to be more widely available in early October. We expect pricing to be announced at or before INTERGEO 2006 (October 10-12, Munich). Z+F’s competitors in the phase-based scanner business have been very aggressive with pricing in the past 12 months; we expect Z+F will price the new IMAGER 5006 competitively.
The standard package will include the scanner, two interchangeable batteries, battery charger, combined power supply and charger, carrying case, Z+F LaserControl basic software, one-year warranty and three days’ training on site at Z+F. Existing accessories for IMAGER 5003 including external battery, charger, tripod and the like are compatible with the new 5006.
