Stylus orientation
AssigneeRenishaw PLC
InventorsDavid Roberts McMurtry, Geoff McFarland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A measurement probe (10) has a stylus part (12) connected to it by means of a ball and cup universal joint (24/25 FIGS. 2 and 3) The stylus part (12) is reorientable relative to the probe and during reorientation is held by means of magnetism or suction to an at tractor (50) whilst the probe (10) is moved. The stylus part (12) is held in static relation to the probe during measurement by means of magnetism or vacuum. The stylus part (12) may be exchanged for another, e.g. 12a or 12b′ at rack (100). During exchange the magnetism or vacuum holding (15) the probe and stylus part in static relation is reduced.
Claims16
A probe comprising two relatively re-orientatable parts connectable by a universal joint, one of the parts having a stylus support, the joint comprising two pieces being held in static relation by means of magnetic attraction or a vacuum between the pieces.
A probe as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the two pieces are in the form of a ball and a cup.
A probe as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein relative vibration takes place between the pieces during relative re-orientation of the parts, and the vibration is caused by varying the magnetic attractive force or the fluid pressure in the space.
A probe as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the pieces are separable in use.
A probe as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the probe further comprises an attractor for holding pivotably the stylus supporting part whilst reorientation of the two parts takes place.
A probe as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the relative re-orientation between the two parts comprises movement of any point on the stylus supporting part in a part-spherical plane about an approximate centre of the ball, which movement is hemispherical or of greater magnitude than hemispherical.
A stylus positioning device for use with a probe having a stylus, in order to reposition the said stylus, the device comprising a magnetic or vacuum attractor for pivotably holding said stylus during movement of the probe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.