Method and device for determining dimensional properties of a measurement object

A coordinate measuring device for determining dimensional properties of a measurement object having a plurality of geometric elements, comprising:

• a workpiece receptacle for holding the measurement object,
• a measuring head movable relative to the workpiece receptacle and configured for recording measured values representing a position of at least one measurement point on the measurement object,
• an evaluation and control unit, which is configured to move the measuring head relative to the workpiece receptacle depending on a defined measurement sequence, and
• wherein the evaluation and control unit includes an image display device and a database containing a plurality of predefined measurement elements and a plurality of typical test features with respect to the predefined measurement elements,
• wherein each typical test feature from the plurality of typical test features represents a defined dimensional property of at least one predefined measurement element,
• wherein the evaluation and control unit is configured to display on said image display device an image representation of the measurement object, which image representation shows at least a first and a second geometric element of the measurement object from the plurality of geometric elements,
• wherein the evaluation and control unit further includes a first selection tool to enable user selection of the geometric elements on the basis of the image representation and user selection of test features,
• wherein the evaluation and control unit is further configured to generate a defined measurement sequence depending on the selected test features,
• wherein the first selection tool enables deliberate selection of individual geometric elements in the image representation of the measurement object by a user,
• wherein the evaluation and control unit is further configured to graphically display on said display device eligible test features for the first geometric element in the image representation of the measurement object when the user selects the first geometric element,
• wherein the evaluation and control unit determines the eligible test features depending on the selection from the plurality of typical test features in the database by virtue of the fact that said evaluation and control unit assigns the selected first geometric element to a predefined measurement element from the plurality of predefined measurement elements,
• wherein any display on said display device of the test features offered for further selection changes depending on the current selection if the operator selects a different geometric element or further geometric elements,
• wherein the evaluation and control unit further includes a second selection tool to enable selection of at least one displayed eligible test feature by the user in the image representation,
• wherein the at least one displayed eligible test feature becomes, as a result of the selection, a selected test feature, and
• wherein the evaluation and control unit is further configured, depending on the selected test feature, to record individual measured values on the first geometric element and to determine a numerical value representing a dimensional property of the first geometric element which corresponds to the selected test feature.

A method of controlling a coordinate measuring machine for determining dimensional properties of a measurement object having a plurality of geometric elements, wherein the coordinate measuring machine includes a measuring head for recording measured values representing a position of at least one measurement point on the measurement object and a control unit configured to control the movements of the measuring head relative to the measurement object, comprising the following steps:

• providing an evaluation unit having a display device and a database containing a plurality of predefined measurement elements and a plurality of typical test features with respect to the predefined measurement elements, wherein each typical test feature from the plurality of typical test features represents a defined dimensional property of at least one predefined measurement element,
• providing on said display device an image representation of the measurement object, which image representation shows at least a first and a second geometric element of the measurement object from the plurality of geometric elements,
• selecting via the evaluation unit the first geometric element using the image representation,
• displaying on said display device eligible test features for the selected first geometric element, wherein the eligible test features are determined from the plurality of typical test features by the selected first geometric element being assigned to a predefined measurement element from the plurality of predefined measurement elements,
• selecting via said evaluation unit at least one displayed eligible test feature, wherein the at least one displayed eligible test feature becomes, as a result of the selection, a selected test feature for the first geometric element,
• generating via said evaluation unit a defined measurement sequence depending on the selected test feature and supplying said defined measurement sequence to said control unit,
• controlling the movement of said measuring head via said control unit in accordance with said defined measurement sequence,
• recording individual measured values on the first geometric element with the aid of the measuring head and depending on the defined measurement sequence, and
• determining a numerical value depending on the individual measured values, wherein the numerical value represents a dimensional property of the first geometric element which corresponds to the selected test feature.