Method of measuring elemental shapes of a workpiece on a coordinate measuring machine

US5471406A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Carl Zeiss Stiftung · DE

Inventors

• Karl-Hermann Breyer · Heidenheim, DE
• Berndt Kammleiter · Oberkochen, DE
• Otto Ruck · Ellwangen (Jagst), DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 23, 1993
• Grant date: Nov 28, 1995
• Expiry date: Mar 23, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01B21/045
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

For rapid measurement of workpieces having elemental shapes of known geometry in any orientation in space, the elemental shapes are scanned on a coordinate measuring machine which is equipped with a measuring probe head having a permissible measurement range (MR). The computer of the measuring machine is programmed with basic data for establishing a predetermined path of probe-scanning contact with the workpiece, the predetermined path being so calculated (1) that the probe ball of the probe will remain in continuous contact with the workpiece surface, (2) that probe-head measurements always occur within the permissible measurement range (MR) of the probe head, and (3) that probe-ball displacements reflect probe-head measurements that are taken as measured corrections of the predetermined path. The control system of the coordinate measuring machine monitors the permissible measurement range (MR) of the probe head and corrects for such bending of the probe pin as may occur in the course of scanning along the predetermined path.