Patent · US Expired

Workpiece inspection

US5058433A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
12References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 7, 1989
Grant dateOct 22, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 7, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B7/008
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Disclosed is a three dimensional coordinate measuring machine which is used to measure a workpiece. The machine has a probe containing a piezoelectric crystal which is capable of detecting the shockwave generated when the probe stylus contacts the surface of the workpiece, in order to provide a trigger signal. In order to reduce the risk of the piezoelectric crystal not triggering satisfactorily upon receipt of this shockwave, the workpiece is vibrated so that immediately upon contact the vibrations travel up the probe stylus to trigger the piezoelectric crystal. The vibrations are introduced by a vibration transducer which is bolted to the bed of the coordinate measuring machine.

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