Chotest GTS-50 Ultra-Precision Laser Tracker

Overview

The Chotest GTS-50 Ultra-Precision Laser Tracker is a metrology-grade photonic coordinate measuring instrument engineered for high-accuracy, large-volume 3D spatial measurement across industrial and scientific applications. Based on the fundamental principles of laser interferometry (IFM) and absolute distance measurement (ADM), the GTS-50 implements Chotest’s proprietary HiADM hybrid ranging technology—integrating the nanometer-level stability of interferometric displacement sensing with the unambiguous, real-time absolute positioning capability of ADM. This dual-mode architecture ensures continuous, high-reproducibility tracking even after temporary beam interruption (e.g., due to occlusion or target reorientation), enabling robust operation in dynamic production environments. With a certified volumetric accuracy of ≤15 µm + 6 µm/m (per ISO 10360-12:2022), the system delivers traceable, μm-class uncertainty over its full 160-meter spherical working volume—making it suitable for primary calibration tasks, geometric error mapping, and dimensional verification in aerospace assembly, heavy machinery validation, and nuclear component qualification.

Key Features

• Integrated Control Architecture: All core electronics—including high-speed FPGA-based servo control, real-time IFM/ADM signal processing, and embedded motion control logic—are housed within the tracker head itself. This eliminates external controller cabinets and reduces inter-unit cabling by >70%, accelerating field deployment and minimizing electromagnetic interference risks.
• Auto-Target Reacquisition (ATR): Equipped with a coaxial HD CMOS camera and adaptive search algorithm, the system autonomously detects and relocks onto spherically mounted retroreflectors (SMRs) within a ±5° angular window following beam break—requiring zero manual intervention.
• HiADM Hybrid Ranging Engine: Seamlessly switches between IFM (for sub-micron incremental displacement resolution) and ADM (for absolute position initialization and recovery), maintaining continuous measurement integrity during complex multi-axis motions.
• Onboard Environmental Compensation: An integrated PTB-calibrated meteorological station continuously monitors ambient temperature, barometric pressure, and relative humidity. Real-time air refractivity correction follows the Ciddor equation (ISO 10360-10 Annex B), ensuring dimensional stability under varying climatic conditions.
• Multi-Protocol Communication: Supports hardware-triggered TTL sync, Gigabit Ethernet, and IEEE 802.11ac Wi-Fi—enabling secure, low-latency data streaming (up to 1000 points/sec) in classified manufacturing zones without physical network penetration.
• Ruggedized Mechanical Design: IP54-rated enclosure protects against dust ingress and incidental moisture; carbon-fiber tripod with pneumatic height adjustment ensures vibration isolation and ergonomic operator positioning across uneven terrain.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The GTS-50 is compatible with industry-standard 0.5″, 1.5″, and 3.0″ spherically mounted retroreflectors (SMRs), as well as non-contact iProbe 6D articulating probes and iTracker 6D kinematic sensors for internal feature access and pose estimation. It supports passive target tracking (e.g., SMRs), active target tracking (via EyeScan laser scanning head), and hybrid probe-tracker workflows. The system complies with ISO 10360-12:2022 (laser trackers), ISO 17025:2017 (testing and calibration laboratories), and meets the environmental test requirements of IEC 60068-2 for operational reliability. Data acquisition and reporting functions are designed to support GLP/GMP audit trails per FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when used with SpatialMaster software configured in validated mode.

Software & Data Management

SpatialMaster (SMT) is a PTB-certified, modular 3D metrology platform developed exclusively for large-volume measurement systems. SMT v9.x provides full GD&T evaluation per ASME Y14.5–2018 and ISO 1101:2017, including profile, orientation, location, and runout tolerancing. Its multi-instrument fusion engine enables synchronized data acquisition from up to eight heterogeneous sources (e.g., laser trackers, portable CMMs, photogrammetry systems). All measurement sessions include immutable metadata logging (timestamp, environmental parameters, operator ID, instrument firmware version), supporting full traceability and revision-controlled report generation. RobotMaster add-on module implements ISO 9283-compliant robot performance testing protocols—including position accuracy, repeatability, path accuracy, and orientation error assessment—with automated report export in PDF/XLSX formats compliant with internal QA documentation standards.

Applications

The GTS-50 serves as a primary reference instrument in high-value manufacturing sectors where dimensional fidelity directly impacts functional performance and regulatory compliance. In aerospace, it verifies wing spar alignment, fuselage panel flatness, and jig repeatability across aircraft final assembly lines. In machine tool metrology, it quantifies volumetric errors (e.g., squareness, straightness, pitch/yaw roll) for ISO 230-6 certification. Within power generation, it validates tube sheet parallelism and hole pattern concentricity in shell-and-tube heat exchangers—ensuring thermal tube insertion integrity under ASME Section VIII Div. 1 requirements. Additional use cases include robotic cell calibration (per ISO/TS 15066), rail vehicle bogie geometry inspection, and large-scale additive manufacturing build plate leveling verification.

FAQ

What is the maximum certified measurement uncertainty of the GTS-50 over its full 160 m range?
The system achieves ≤15 µm + 6 µm/m volumetric length measurement uncertainty (k = 2) per ISO 10360-12:2022, verified using calibrated artifact spheres and laser interferometer references.
Does the GTS-50 support FDA 21 CFR Part 11-compliant electronic records?
Yes—when deployed with SpatialMaster in Audit Mode, all measurement sessions generate time-stamped, digitally signed audit logs with user authentication, change history, and immutable raw data archives.
Can the tracker operate indoors without climate control?
Yes—the integrated meteorological station and real-time Ciddor compensation enable stable operation across ambient temperatures from 10 °C to 35 °C and humidity levels from 20% to 80% RH.
Is third-party calibration certification available?
Chotest provides NIST-traceable factory calibration reports; accredited third-party calibration (e.g., by A2LA-accredited labs) is supported via documented procedures and artifact interchange protocols.
What target types are natively supported without adapter hardware?
Standard 0.5″, 1.5″, and 3.0″ SMRs; iProbe 6D tactile probe; iTracker 6D pose sensor; and EyeScan laser line scanner—all communicate natively via SMT’s unified driver architecture.