Patent · US Expired

Surface-sensing device

US5040306A · kind A · utility

152Cited by
13References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 16, 1989
Grant dateAug 20, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 16, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B5/012
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The disclosure pertains to a probe head (PH) for use in coordinate measuring machines and having a stylus (10) supported for axial displacement (D1) and angular displacements (D2,D3). A transducer (T1) senses axial forces (F1) on the sensing end (11) of the stylus due to engagement therefore with a workpiece 12. A strain gauge system (16) provided on the stylus senses transverse forces (F2) on the sensing end (11) of the stylus. The forces (F1,F2) are used to determine the orientation of the surface (12A) of the workpiece and a control system is described which responds to those forces to maintain the stylus normal to said surfce (12A) during a scanning operation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.