Articulating arm calibration artifact system and method of use
AssigneeBrunson Instrument Company
InventorMark J. Meuret
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method of calibrating a measuring instrument is provided. The system includes a support system for quickly and easily securing a low thermal expansion length reference bar in position. The reference bar is coupled to the support beam using a kinematic mounting system that is designed to reduce or eliminate errors associated with over-constraining the reference bar. The system is optimized for field calibration of certain measuring instruments, such as measuring instruments having articulating arms. Opposed first and second ends of the reference bar include respective first and second retroflectors and/or first and second probe receivers at known distances relative to each other, thereby facilitating calibration of the measuring instrument.
Claims20
An article of manufacture comprising:
- a kinematic mount base comprising:
- a base plate,
- a first interface member,
- a second interface member, and
- a third interface member;
- and
- a linear calibration artifact comprising:
- a cylindrical element;
- a first end cap defining:
- a first interface feature for the first interface member;
- and
- a second interface feature for the second interface member;
- a second end cap comprising a third interface feature for the third interface member;
- a first reference member, and
- a second reference member,
- wherein kinematic mount base receives, stabilizes, and minimizes or eliminates constraints on the linear calibration artifact.
An article of manufacture comprising:
- a base plate,
- a first interface member,
- a second interface member, and
- a third interface member,
- wherein the article of manufacture can receive a linear calibration artifact with no fixturing effects on the linear calibration artifact.
A process for calibrating a coordinate measuring machine, the method comprising:
- mounting a linear calibration artifact onto a kinematic mount base, wherein the linear calibration artifact comprises a first target and a second target;
- transporting the linear calibration artifact and kinematic mount base to a coordinate measuring machine;
- and
- taking a first measurement along the linear calibration artifact of the first target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.