Profile characterization
AssigneeQuickmill, Inc.
InventorsDavid C. Piggott, Andy Chik Hung Wong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for quickly characterizing the profile of a surface of a workpiece using a non-contact scanner, such as a laser scanner, in preparation for subsequent machining. The method determines the location of a plurality of features of a workpiece on a machine tool, and comprises steps of reading a first list of approximate feature locations, defining a scan path based on the first list, scanning a profile of the workpiece along the scan path and calculating an actual location of each feature of said plurality of features based on the profile. The system and method are well suited to determining the location of features such as holes in welded header boxes.
Claims28
A method of determining the location of a plurality of features of a workpiece on a machine tool, the method comprising the steps of:
- reading a first list of approximate feature locations;
- defining a scan path based on said first list;
- scanning a profile of said workpiece along said scan path;
- and
- calculating an actual location of each feature of said plurality of features based on said profile.
A computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine comprising:
- reading means for reading a first list of approximate feature locations;
- defining means for defining a scan path based on said first list;
- scanning means for scanning a profile of said workpiece along said scan path;
- and
- calculating means for calculating an actual location of each feature of said plurality of features based on said profile.
A kit for a scanning system for a CNC machine, the kit comprising:
- reading means for reading a first list of approximate feature locations;
- defining means for defining a scan path based on said first list;
- scanning means for scanning a profile of said workpiece along said scan path;
- and
- calculating means for calculating an actual location of each feature of said plurality of features based on said profile.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.