CMM Apparatus for Identifying and Confirming the Stylus
AssigneeHexagon Metrology, Inc.
InventorsZachary Cobb, Gurpreet Singh, Milan Kocic
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments improve the performance and reliability of coordinate measuring machines by verifying that coordinate measuring machine is configured to use the appropriate probe or stylus for measuring an object. In some embodiments, confirmation that the appropriate probe or stylus is mounted is built into an automated part of the CMM's measurement process, thereby assuring that a confirmation step is performed and that the outcome is correct.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method of operating a coordinate measuring machine to measure an object according to a criterion associated with the object, the criterion identifying a specific probe type with which the object is to be measured, the method comprising:
- detecting an indicium of an available probe;
- in assessing whether the indicium of the available probe meets the criterion specified for the object to be measured;
- and
- controlling the coordinate measuring machine to measure the object with the available probe when the indicium meets the criterion.
A coordinate measuring machine system operable to measure an object, the system comprising:
- a moveable arm configured to move a probe, relative to the object to be measured;
- a first probe configured to be removably coupled to the arm, the first probe comprising a first indicium;
- a second probe configured to be removably coupled to the arm, the second probe comprising a second indicium that is distinguishable from the first indicium;
- and
- a controller configured to select, based on at least one of the first indicia and the second indicia, one of the first probe and the second probe for use by the coordinate measuring machine to measure the object, said probe being a selected probe.
A probe configured for mounting to a coordinate measuring machine, the coordinate measuring machine configured to couple to the probe and a second probe, the probe comprising:
- a probe body;
- and
- a probe indicium associated with the probe body, the probe indicium configured to distinguish the probe from the second probe,
- the probe indicium being unconcealed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.