How Hexagon AB Is Pioneering AR in Metrology
Image: AR Monitoring overlaying machine health and instructions on a smartphone Hexagon+1Hexagon+1
Bridging digital precision and real-world inspection workflows
By Mark Boucher
Metrology is entering a new era, and Hexagon AB—a Swedish industrial technology giant with over €5.5 billion in revenue—is leading the charge with innovative AR-enhanced solutions.
AR Monitoring: Real-Time Data Overlay
Hexagon’s AR Monitoring app enables operators to unlock asset insights simply by scanning a QR code with a phone or tablet. This brings up live data from PLC, MES, ERP, or SCADA systems, as well as engineering schematics, manuals, and maintenance videos—delivered directly on the shop floor.
Autonomous Metrology Suite: Cloud-First Inspection
Their newly launched HxGN Autonomous Metrology Suite streamlines CMM workflows via the Nexus cloud platform. It auto-generates inspection programs from CAD, deploys them to CMMs, and collects all results and asset-health data in a single dashboard—reducing programming time from days to hours.
Image: Engineer using the Autonomous Metrology dashboard Hexagon
AR in Action: Watch Hexagon’s Inspire Software
Explore how their Inspire portable CMM software simplifies 3D analysis in real-world environments:
Hardware & Integration: Absolute Arm and MAESTRO
Hexagon blends AR with high-precision hardware:
Absolute Arm (6-axis portable arm): Enables tactile probing and occasional scanning with enhanced accuracy and mobility.
MAESTRO CMM: Next-generation all-digital CMM built for speed, ease-of-use, and connected workflows—ideal for aerospace and automotive
These devices feed real-time measurement data into AR overlays—creating seamless quality assurance workflows.
Why Hexagon’s AR Approach Matters
Digital-Physical Integration
AR Monitoring and Autonomous Metrology connect live asset data and CAD models to physical parts—making inspection intuitive and context-aware.Democratization of Metrology
With no-code CMM programming and visual AR guidance, operators with varied skill levels can perform precision inspections.Efficiency Gains
Hexagon reports major time savings—reducing manual programming time and empowering real-time decision-making on the shop floor.Scalable & Connected
Cloud-native Nexus allows centralized control and reporting—empowering multi-machine, multi-site coordination.
What’s Ahead for Hexagon and AR
Expect to see:
Broader use of AR-guided deviations, guiding operators to areas out of tolerance.
Fully immersive digital twin workflows, linking real-time scans, AR visualization, and automated analysis.
AI-powered anomaly detection embedded into AR systems for instant defect alerts.
Final Takeaway
Hexagon AB is not just adopting AR—it’s weaving it into the fabric of modern metrology. By combining advanced hardware, cloud software, and immersive visualization, they’re redefining how measurements are taken, interpreted, and acted upon.
