Keyence's IM-X1000 measures 5,000 dimensions in 1 second

Keyence has launched the IM-X1000 series, the latest generation of its Image Dimension Measurement System, adding a stage large enough to inspect parts up to 500mm by 400mm in a single setup. Keyence says the system takes "place-and-press measurement to the next level," with push-button inspection that can capture up to 5,000 dimensions in as little as 1 second.

The new stage is the headline spec. At 500mm by 400mm, it covers 3.3 times the measurement area of the previous generation, and its Z-axis range now reaches 200mm, 2.7 times the prior height capacity. That means parts that once needed a separate CMM run or a second setup on a smaller stage can now be measured in one pass. The system is modular: a wide-field head and a high-accuracy head pair with three stage sizes, 200mm by 200mm, 300mm by 300mm, and the new 500mm by 400mm option, so shops can match magnification and working area to the part instead of buying a fixed configuration.

Programming is the other change worth noting. The IM-X1000 imports CAD files directly, but it now also accepts PDF, JPEG, and even paper drawings, and Keyence says a program can go from drawing to run in three steps: select the critical dimensions, set design values, and apply tolerances. A built-in Smart Assist function auto-optimizes focus and lighting, which Keyence says lets operators without optical metrology experience reach "expert level programming."

Engineers who currently split large-part inspection between a CMM for geometry and a separate optical comparator for fine features will care about the multisensor setup. The system combines a 20-megapixel CMOS sensor with a low-measuring-pressure touch probe that moves vertically, horizontally, and at an angle for 3D shapes, plus a multi-color laser that reads part height instantly regardless of material.

Keyence has not published pricing or a ship date for the IM-X1000 series. The company calls the drawing-import feature a "world-first function," though it has not detailed how the system handles drawings with hand-marked or non-standard tolerancing, a scenario still common on paper prints in circulation on many shop floors.