Method and means for controlling a coordinate-measuring instrument

US4835718A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, Heidenheim/Brenz · DE

Inventors

• Karl-Hermann Breyer · Heidenheim, DE
• Karl Schepperle · Oberkochen, DE
• Bernd Georgi · Hannover, DE
• Martin Wimmer · Neubiberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 10, 1987
• Grant date: May 30, 1989
• Expiry date: Jul 10, 2007

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/50112
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In the automated performance of multiple measurements on each of a succession of workpieces, the invention contemplates establishing a plurality of safety-reference positions (S.sub.1 to S.sub.7) along the programmed displacement path intended for the probe head (10) and its work-contacting probe pin. Any one of a variety of error signals developed in the course of conducting the measurement program on a given workpiece is operative to temporarily stop further conduct of the program and to instigate a repeated attempt to successfully traverse the part of the program in which the error signal occurred. The repeated attempt involves retracting displacement of the probe head back to the most-recently traversed safety-reference position, and if the repeated attempt produces the same error signal the probe head is returned to the most-recently traversed safety-reference position and is then caused to by-pass the error-signal part of the program by displacement to a succeeding safety-reference position, for completion of the remaining fraction of the measurement program on the given workpiece.