Laser tracker calibration system and methods

A calibration system for use in calibrating a laser tracker, the system comprising:

• an artifact comprising:
• a main segment having opposed first and second ends;
• and
• a first segment extending from said first end of said main segment,
• wherein said first segment is restrained in six degrees of freedom relative to said main segment when said first segment is in a locked configuration;
• a kinematic mounting system engaged with said artifact;
• a support beam engaged with said kinematic mounting system, wherein said kinematic mounting system restrains the artifact in six degrees of freedom relative to said support beam;
• a positioner assembly engaged with said support beam, said positioner assembly being configured to orient said support beam, thereby orienting said artifact;
• and
• a ring brake coupled to said support beam,
• wherein said positioner comprises a yoke for receiving said ring brake, thereby facilitating engagement of said support beam with said positioner,
• wherein said ring brake defines a plurality of locating features for haptic feedback and positioning repeatability, and
• wherein said positioner comprises a plunger that is configured to selectively engage with one or more locating features of said ring brake.

A method of assembling a calibration system, the system being configured for calibrating a laser tracker, the method comprising:

• attaching a first segment of the artifact to a first end of the main segment of the artifact, thereby moving the artifact from a stowable configuration towards a deployed configuration;
• and
• restraining the first segment in six degrees of freedom relative to said main segment, thereby moving said first segment to a locked configuration,
• wherein the artifact comprises:
• a first end plate coupled to the first end of the main segment, the first end plate defining first and second receiving apertures;
• a first protruding member extending from the proximal end of the first segment, the first protruding member of the first segment being configured to be received by the first receiving aperture of the first end plate when the artifact is in the deployed configuration;
• and
• a second protruding member extending from the proximal end of the first segment, the second protruding member of the first segment being configured to be received by the second receiving aperture of the first end plate when the artifact is in the deployed configuration.

A method of assembling a calibration system, the system being configured for calibrating a laser tracker, the method comprising:

• attaching a first segment of the artifact to a first end of the main segment of the artifact, thereby moving the artifact from a stowable configuration towards a deployed configuration;
• restraining the first segment in six degrees of freedom relative to said main segment, thereby moving said first segment to a locked configuration;
• engaging the artifact with a kinematic mounting system of the calibration system;
• engaging the kinematic mounting system with a support beam of the calibration system;
• and
• coupling a ring brake to the support beam and engaging the ring brake with a yoke of a positioner assembly,
• wherein the kinematic mounting system restrains the artifact in six degrees of freedom relative to the support beam,
• wherein the positioner assembly is configured to orient the artifact by orienting the support beam,
• wherein the ring brake defines a plurality of locating features for haptic feedback and positioning repeatability, and
• wherein the positioner comprises a plunger that is configured to selectively engage with one or more locating features of the ring brake.