US 12,152,872 B2Granted

Method for assessing tool profile using break-beam tool setting apparatus

AssigneeRenishaw PLC

InventorsWilliam Ernest Lee, Paul Maxted

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Abstract

A method for assessing the profile of a tool using a non-contact tool setting apparatus that includes a transmitter for emitting a light beam and a receiver for receiving the beam. The receiver generates a beam intensity signal describing the intensity of received light. The setting apparatus is mounted to a coordinate positioning apparatus that allows the tool to be moved relative to the setting apparatus. The method includes using the coordinate positioning apparatus to move the tool relative to the setting apparatus along a tool inspection path, the tool inspection path being selected so that the light beam is traced substantially along a periphery of the tool to be inspected. Beam intensity data is collected describing the beam intensity signal that is generated by the receiver as the tool inspection path is traversed and analysis of the collected beam intensity data is used to assess the tool profile.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A method for assessing a profile of a non-rotating tool using a break-beam tool setting apparatus comprising (i) a transmitter for emitting a light beam having a circular profile and (ii) a receiver for receiving the light beam, the receiver generating a single beam intensity signal describing intensity of received light, the break-beam tool setting apparatus being mounted to a coordinate positioning apparatus that allows the non-rotating tool to be translated along three mutually orthogonal linear axes relative to the break-beam tool setting apparatus, and the method comprising steps of:

(i) using the coordinate positioning apparatus to translate the non-rotating tool relative to the break-beam tool setting apparatus along one or more of the three mutually orthogonal linear axes so that the light beam is moved along an edge of the non-rotating tool;
(ii) collecting beam intensity data describing the single beam intensity signal that is generated by the receiver while the light beam is moved along the edge of the non-rotating tool during step (i);
and
(iii) analysing the beam intensity data collected in step (ii) to determine a profile of the edge of the tool,
wherein a tool inspection path is pre-calculated prior to step (i) using data describing a nominal or expected profile of the tool, and step (i) comprises the coordinate positioning apparatus using the pre-calculated tool inspection path to impart the translation of the non-rotating tool relative to the break-beam tool setting apparatus that causes the light beam to be moved along the edge of the non-rotating tool.

2 more elements

(i) using the coordinate positioning apparatus to translate the non-rotating tool relative to the break-beam tool setting apparatus along one or more of the three mutually orthogonal linear axes so that the light beam is moved along an edge of the non-rotating tool;
(ii) collecting beam intensity data describing the single beam intensity signal that is generated by the receiver while the light beam is moved along the edge of the non-rotating tool during step (i);
and
(iii) analysing the beam intensity data collected in step (ii) to determine a profile of the edge of the tool,
wherein a tool inspection path is pre-calculated prior to step (i) using data describing a nominal or expected profile of the tool, and step (i) comprises the coordinate positioning apparatus using the pre-calculated tool inspection path to impart the translation of the non-rotating tool relative to the break-beam tool setting apparatus that causes the light beam to be moved along the edge of the non-rotating tool, and
wherein the tool inspection path comprising a start position on the non-rotating tool and an end position on the non-rotating tool, the start position and the end position being located at different positions along a longitudinal axis of the non-rotating tool, and the translation of the non-rotating tool relative to the break-beam tool setting apparatus of step (i) causing the light beam to be scanned along the non-rotating tool from the start position to the end position without the non-rotating tool moving out of the light beam.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/836,505Filed 9 Jun 2022 · continuation
Priority: EP 171895045 Sep 2017
Published: US 2022/0316859 A16 Oct 2022
Granted: 26 Nov 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G01B 11/028
For measuring length, width or thickness: by measuring lateral position of a boundary of the object
B23Q 17/2485
Using special electromagnetic means or methods: using interruptions of light beams
G01B 11/04
For measuring length, width or thickness: specially adapted for measuring length or width of objects while moving
G01B 11/24
Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques: for measuring contours or curvatures

Family

PCT/GB2018/052472Parent of this continuation · filed 31 Aug 2018
US 2022/0316859 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Oct 2022
Application16/635,135Parent of this continuation
US 11,371,830 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2020/0309509 A1Published application
US 12,152,872 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.