Non-contact tool setting apparatus and method for moving tool along tool inspection path

A method for assessing changes in a profile of a tool using a non-contact tool setting apparatus mounted to a coordinate positioning apparatus, the coordinate positioning apparatus carrying the tool and being configured to control movement of the tool relative to the non-contact tool setting apparatus, the non-contact tool setting apparatus comprising a transmitter for emitting a light beam and a receiver for receiving the light beam, the receiver generating a beam intensity signal describing an intensity of the received light, the method comprising the steps of:

• (i) calculating a tool inspection path defining movement of the tool relative to the non-contact tool setting apparatus, the tool inspection path being configured to provide movement of the light beam along a longitudinal axis of the tool whilst tracing the light beam along a periphery of the tool;
• (ii) performing a first tool measurement that comprises moving the tool relative to the non-contact tool setting apparatus along the tool inspection path and collecting a first set of beam intensity data describing the beam intensity signal generated by the receiver as the tool inspection path is traversed, the first set of beam intensity data being collected at a first plurality of points that are along the periphery of the tool and are located at different positions along the longitudinal axis of the tool;
• (iii) performing a machining operation with the coordinate positioning apparatus and the tool;
• (iv) performing a second tool measurement after step (iii) that comprises moving the tool relative to the non-contact tool setting apparatus along the tool inspection path and collecting a second set of beam intensity data describing the beam intensity signal generated by the receiver as the tool inspection path is traversed, the second set of beam intensity data being collected at a second plurality of points that are along the periphery of the tool and are located at different positions along the longitudinal axis of the tool;
• and
• (v) comparing the second set of beam intensity data collected in step (iv) with the first set of beam intensity data collected in step (ii) to assess if the tool profile has changed.

A method for measuring changes in a profile of a tool using a non-contact tool setting apparatus mounted to a machine tool, the machine tool carrying the tool and being configured to control movement of the tool relative to the non-contact tool setting apparatus, the non-contact tool setting apparatus comprising a transmitter for emitting a light beam and a receiver for receiving the light beam, the receiver generating a beam intensity signal describing an intensity of the received light, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) performing an initial tool measurement that comprises using the machine tool to move the tool relative to the non-contact tool setting apparatus along a tool inspection path whilst collecting a first set of beam intensity data describing the beam intensity signal generated by the receiver as the tool inspection path is traversed, the first set of beam intensity data being collected at a first plurality of points that are along a periphery of the tool and are located at different positions along the longitudinal axis of the tool;
• (b) performing a machining operation with the machine tool and the tool;
• and
• (c) performing a further tool measurement that comprises using the machine tool to move the tool relative to the non-contact tool setting apparatus along the tool inspection path whilst collecting a second set of beam intensity data describing the beam intensity signal generated by the receiver as the tool inspection path is traversed, the second set of beam intensity data being collected at a second plurality of points that are along the periphery of the tool and are located at different positions along the longitudinal axis of the tool, the tool inspection path used in step (c) being the same as the tool inspection path used in (a).