Case Study: The Standard Steam Locomotive Company restores a lost steam locomotive with Hexagon laser tracking

Uncovering the hidden past of steam locomotive manufacturing

The Standard Steam Locomotive Company, a group of engineering enthusiasts, faced the challenge of recreating a lost steam locomotive class. Gaps and discrepancies in the original 1950s drawings, combined with parts manufactured in separate locations, threatened the project's assembly. They enlisted the University of Sheffield AMRC and Hexagon to obtain precise measurements of large, stored components to resolve these errors before assembly.

Hexagon provided its Leica Absolute Tracker laser technology to solve this. The AT402 was used outdoors to probe frame extensions, revealing a 1.6mm drawing error, while the ATS600 scanner was used to quickly identify and help correct an 8.9mm misalignment in the main frame during assembly. This solution provided accurate, real-time data that saved significant time compared to traditional methods, allowing the team to devise strategies to correct the parts and ensure the build could progress accurately.