Measuring dimensions: length / width / height / area
Measuring dimensions — from the exact determination of length, width, and height to precise area measurement — is a decisive factor for success in industrial companies today. In this article, you will learn how modern 3D laser measurement systems can help you perform measurement tasks faster, more accurately, and automatically.
Let us show you how you can optimize your production and ensure the highest level of quality with innovative measurement technology. Stay tuned if you want to make your production fit for the future!
Metal roller is measured for wear -> point cloud of the roller surface
The precise measurement of dimensions – i.e., length, width, height, and area – is essential for efficient and error-free production in industry today. Modern measuring systems enable accurate quality control, ensure process stability, and form the basis for automated processes.
The term “measuring dimensions” refers to the precise determination of geometric quantities such as length, width, height, and area of components and workpieces. In industrial environments in particular, it is important that these measurements are carried out quickly, reliably, and with a high degree of precision. Incorrect dimensions can lead to quality losses, increased scrap, or even safety-related problems.
The use of 3D laser measurement systems opens up new possibilities in dimensional measurement. These systems capture the surface structure of objects without contact and generate three-dimensional data that allows for a complete analysis of the component geometry. In addition to simple length and width measurements, complex areas and volumes can also be determined with high precision.
Precise dimensional measurement is a key success factor for industrial companies. It forms the basis for stable series production and guarantees that all components comply exactly with the technical specifications. Error-free dimensions are essential, especially for safety-critical components or products with high requirements for accuracy of fit.
Due to the increasing level of automation and rising quality assurance requirements, precise and efficient measurement solutions are becoming increasingly important. The use of modern 3D laser systems makes it possible to integrate quality control into the production process, thereby detecting and correcting errors during manufacturing.
Measuring dimensions involves much more than just determining lengths and widths. With modern laser measurement systems, areas and volumes can also be measured precisely and in the shortest possible time. Contactless measurement with lasers is a decisive advantage, especially for components with complex geometries or measuring points that are difficult to access.
The versatility of 3D laser systems allows a wide range of tasks to be performed, from quick checks of individual dimensions to comprehensive analysis of entire component geometries. The measurement data obtained can be integrated directly into the quality process, thus forming the basis for continuous process optimization.
Whether classic or innovative methods are used, choosing the right measurement technology is crucial for efficiency and accuracy in industrial dimensional measurement. In the next section, we present the most important methods and highlight why contactless 3D laser systems in particular play a leading role today.
Traditional methods of dimensional measurement are often based on tactile measuring devices such as calipers, micrometers, or coordinate measuring machines. Although these methods deliver accurate results, they are usually time-consuming and require direct contact with the test object, which can be problematic, especially with sensitive or hard-to-reach components.
In contrast, optical measurement methods – especially 3D laser sensors – offer contactless, fast, and repeatable measurement of component dimensions. Using laser triangulation, even complex shapes, shiny surfaces, or delicate structures can be reliably measured without damaging the component or interfering with the production process.
3D laser measurement systems operate at high speeds and deliver comprehensive measurement data in real time. While tactile systems scan point by point, laser sensors generate complete profile or surface data directly – saving time and increasing efficiency, especially with high volumes or complex geometries.
Laser measurement systems are also much more flexible: they are suitable for measurements during production (inline), at high temperatures, or in harsh environments where tactile systems often reach their limits. By combining speed, precision, and versatility, 3D laser systems offer clear added value for industrial quality assurance.
Contactless measurement using laser technology minimizes the risk of damage to sensitive components and enables complete documentation without interrupting the production process. These advantages are particularly important in automated manufacturing environments, as no additional setup times or manual intervention are required.
Laser technology also allows for high measurement density and detail accuracy: even the smallest deviations are detected early on and can be corrected immediately in the manufacturing process. This leads to a significant reduction in scrap and rework.
In addition to classic length and width measurements, area and height profiles as well as tolerance monitoring are also of central importance for industrial quality control. Modern laser systems measure with a resolution in the micrometer range and thus offer the necessary precision for demanding applications in manufacturing.
By comprehensively recording all relevant parameters, companies can not only prove compliance with product specifications, but also identify trends and optimize processes in a targeted manner. This creates the basis for sustainable and efficient production at the highest level of quality.
Measurement of weld seams and inspection of geometric dimensions
The possibilities and advantages of modern laser measurement technology are particularly evident in a wide range of industrial applications. In the next section, we will show you the industries and processes in which precise dimension measurement provides competitive advantages.
Precise dimension measurement plays a key role in quality assurance. Only with accurate measurement data can compliance with specified tolerances be continuously monitored—an essential factor in minimizing scrap and avoiding costly rework. Companies benefit particularly from the integration of automated laser measurement systems in series production, as inspection processes can be efficiently and error-free integrated into ongoing production.
3D laser measurement systems also ensure transparency and reliability in process control. Deviations in the manufacturing process are detected at an early stage, enabling rapid corrective action to be taken. This allows companies to optimize not only product quality but also their overall production processes in a sustainable and more economical manner.
High quality standards and flexible manufacturing concepts are crucial in mechanical engineering and the automotive industry. Laser measurement systems from QuellTech offer the possibility of precisely measuring complex components or car body parts – inline or offline. This helps to identify sources of error at an early stage and increase efficiency in production.
In the automotive industry in particular, large quantities are often produced, where every deviation can quickly become expensive. Fast and automatic measurement of dimensions guarantees compliance with the tightest tolerances and ensures that all components meet the strict quality requirements.
In metalworking, the requirements for measurement accuracy and response speed are particularly high. Here, modern 3D laser systems enable the measurement of components both during and after processing, even at high temperatures or on difficult surfaces. This ensures complete documentation and increases safety throughout the entire manufacturing process.
Whether measuring rolled products, sheet metal, or complex welded assemblies, 3D laser sensors deliver reproducible and reliable results every time. Contactless measurement protects the material and enables accurate analysis even on red-hot or rough surfaces.
A particular advantage of 3D laser technology is its ability to capture not only simple dimensions but also complex geometries and surface structures. For example, free-form surfaces, curvatures, and drill holes can be measured quickly and reliably. This versatility makes the technology suitable for use in almost all industrial sectors.
The high-resolution measurement data allows complex surfaces to be directly compared with CAD specifications. This reliably documents component quality and enables any deviations to be identified and corrected immediately.
Many industrial applications place high demands on measurement technology – whether due to extreme temperatures, dust, moisture, or difficult lighting conditions. QuellTech sensors are specially designed to deliver reliable measurements even under the harshest conditions. This enables their use in production areas where conventional measurement methods reach their limits.
Whether in mining, steel production, or even underwater, modern 3D laser measurement systems offer solutions for almost any environment. Companies benefit from consistently high measurement quality and long-term operational reliability, even for the most demanding measurement tasks.
With decades of experience and technological leadership, QuellTech offers individually configurable 3D laser measurement systems that are precisely tailored to customer requirements. Our modular sensor concept enables flexible solutions for a wide range of applications and industry-specific challenges.
QuellTech offers a wide range of 3D laser measurement systems designed for both standard and highly specialized measurement tasks. The systems can be flexibly integrated into existing production lines and are available in various designs to cover a wide range of requirements in terms of measuring range, resolution, and speed.
Thanks to our modular concept, we can optimally adapt the sensors to the respective application – from precise length measurement of small components to fully automatic area measurement of large components. This ensures maximum flexibility and efficiency with consistently high measurement quality.
QuellTech’s modular sensor concept allows you to configure the right solution for every measurement task. Our sensors can be used individually or in combination, which is particularly advantageous for complex geometries or large-area objects.
In addition, the software can be tailored precisely to the respective requirements so that the measurement data obtained can be integrated directly into quality assurance or process monitoring. This saves our customers significant time and money during implementation and ongoing operation.
Our laser systems are designed to deliver maximum precision even under demanding conditions. Whether heat, dust, moisture, or strong vibrations – the robust design and sophisticated signal processing ensure that the measurement results are always reliable.
This is particularly important in sensitive industries such as metal processing and automotive manufacturing. Here, availability and measurement accuracy are crucial to ensuring the long-term quality of the end products.
QuellTech laser sensors are suitable for use directly in the production line (inline) as well as for sampling or laboratory applications (offline). Inline applications enable seamless monitoring of the manufacturing process in real time, so that deviations can be detected and corrected immediately.
Offline applications are used wherever maximum precision and detailed documentation are required, such as in the development of new products or the validation of manufacturing processes. In both cases, our customers benefit from ease of use and integration into existing IT and quality assurance systems.
The use of our 3D laser measurement systems offers numerous advantages for industrial applications. In the final section, we explain the most important strengths and show how our solutions help companies make their processes more efficient and future-proof.
Thanks to their compact design and modular construction, QuellTech sensors can be easily integrated even in confined installation situations. They adapt flexibly to different spatial conditions, opening up new possibilities for automation and quality assurance.
The sensors are designed to work reliably even in challenging environments – whether in confined spaces, under difficult lighting conditions or at fluctuating temperatures. This allows companies to carry out their measurement tasks flexibly and efficiently.
Our systems deliver precise measurement results even in very fast manufacturing processes. The high sampling rate and intelligent signal processing ensure that even dynamic measurement tasks are handled reliably – without compromising accuracy and reproducibility.
This enables continuous quality control during the running process and significantly reduces the risk of production errors or scrap. Companies thus benefit from increased process reliability and cost efficiency.
QuellTech laser sensors have been specially developed for measuring hot objects, such as red-hot metals. They deliver accurate results even at temperatures of up to 1200°C and can handle even the most challenging surfaces – whether high-gloss, matt or with minimal reflectivity.
This versatility makes our systems the ideal solution for a wide range of industrial applications where conventional measurement methods are often insufficient.
We offer our customers complete turnkey solutions – from consulting and planning to individual system configuration, implementation, and maintenance. Our experts provide support at every step and ensure that each measuring system is perfectly tailored to the specific requirements.
Thanks to the close integration of hardware and software, our customers receive a complete solution from a single source that can be seamlessly integrated into existing processes and enables a fast return on investment.
With QuellTech, companies benefit from innovative measurement technologies that save time, optimize processes, and ensure the highest quality standards. Our systems help to shorten production times, detect errors at an early stage, and secure a real competitive advantage in the market.
This makes the precise measurement of dimensions a key factor for sustainable success and future security in industry.
In the past, we have used Quelltech solutions for measuring dimensions in a wide variety of projects. Here you can find a small selection of these projects:
Aluminum block measurement
Q4 Laser Scanner Family:
Small form factor, low weight, many housing variants, high laser powers in blue, red and green, very high robustness against environmental influences.
Q5 Laser Scanner Family:
Medium form factor, high resolution, very high speed, laser measurement widths up to 800 mm.
Q6 Laser Scanner Family:
Medium form factor, very high resolution, very high speed, many housing options, measuring widths up to 1500 mm.
QuellTech Q4 laser scanner product family for simple applications, very robust against ambient light.
Q6-D laser scanner product family for demanding, fast, and high-resolution measurement technology.
Q5-D laser scanner product family is the reliable performer in the midfield of optical applications.
We are happy to help you with that!
Stefan Ringwald
Technical Contact
If you have any questions about Laser Triangulation or would like a consultation from QuellTech on this subject, we will be happy to help.
We would like to help you to precisely evaluate your specific measurement task. Through an initial free test measurement of your application, we can give you an early assessment of the feasibility.
There is always potential for improvement, we will help you with that. Contact us for more information or to make an appointment for a consultation.
By submitting the contact form, you agree that your data will be used to process your request (further information and instructions on withdrawal can be found in the privacy policy).
Your technically competent contact, Stefan Ringwald, will be happy to help you.
Our aim is to fully understand your specific technical requirements for your current measurement task.
Thanks to many years of experience with complex tasks in the field of 3D laser measurement, you will receive well-founded solution proposals from us.
