A collision protection apparatus

A method of controlling a measurement instrument for avoiding collisions between a measurement probe of the measurement instrument and a to be measured, wherein the measurement instrument comprises a rotatable mounting for rotating a component for measurement, the measurement instrument is configured to control the measurement probe to perform a surface measurement of the component as the component rotates on the rotatable mounting and move relative to the component at a movement speed;

• the method comprising:
• operating a proximity sensor for sensing proximity between the measurement probe and the component, monitoring the proximity while moving the measurement probe relative to the component at a measurement speed;
• and
• reducing the movement speed in the event that proximity sensor indicates that the measurement probe is within a threshold distance of the component.

A method of adapting a measurement instrument to provide collision protection for collisions between a measurement probe and a component, wherein the measurement instrument comprises:

• rotatable mounting for rotating a component for measurement;
• a measurement probe configured to:
• perform a surface measurement of the component as the component rotates on the rotatable mounting;
• move relative to the component at a movement speed;
• the method comprising at least one of:
• providing a proximity sensor wherein the proximity sensor is:
• configured to provide a proximity signal indicative of the proximity of the measurement probe to the component;
• and,
• operable to reduce the movement speed in the event that the proximity signal indicates that the measurement probe is within a threshold distance of the component;
• disposing, on a measurement probe, a contact sensor wherein the contact sensor is:
• configured to sense contact between the contact sensor and the measurement probe;
• and,
• operable to stop movement of the measurement probe in the event that the contact sensor indicates contact with the component.

A measurement instrument for performing measurements of a component, the measurement instrument comprising:

• a rotatable mounting for rotating a component for measurement;
• a measurement probe configured to:
• perform a surface measurement of the component as the component rotates on the rotatable mounting;
• move relative to the component at a movement speed;
• a collision protection apparatus comprising:
• a proximity sensor configured to provide a proximity signal indicative of the proximity of the measurement probe to the component;
• a control means configured to monitor the proximity signal and to reduce the movement speed in the event that the proximity signal indicates that the measurement probe is within a threshold distance of the component;
• and,
• a contact sensor wherein the control means is configured to stop relative movement between the measurement probe and the component in the event that the contact sensor indicates contact with the component.

A method of controlling a measurement instrument (100;

• 200) for avoiding collisions between the measurement instrument and a component (190;
• 290) to be measured, wherein the measurement instrument comprises a rotatable mounting (120;
• 220) for rotating a component (190;
• 290) for measurement, the measurement instrument (100) is configured to control the measurement probe (160;
• 260) to perform a surface measurement of the component (190;
• 290) as the component rotates on the rotatable mounting (120;
• 220) and the measurement probe moves relative to the component at a movement speed, the method comprising:
• obtaining a first distance signal from a first distance sensor wherein the first distance signal is indicative of the distance between the component and the first distance sensor;
• defining a first threshold region around the component based on the first distance signal;
• reducing the movement speed to a first movement speed in the event that the measurement probe is within the first threshold region.

A collision protection apparatus for a measurement instrument, the measurement instrument comprising:

• a rotatable mounting for rotating a component to be measured;
• a measurement probe configured to:
• perform a surface measurement of the component as the component rotates on the rotatable mounting;
• and,
• move relative to the component at a movement speed;
• the collision protection apparatus comprising:
• a first distance sensor, wherein the first distance sensor is configured to provide a first distance signal indicative of the distance between the component and the first distance sensor;
• a control means configured to:
• define a first threshold region around the component based on the first distance signal;
• reduce the movement speed in the event that the measurement probe enters the first threshold region.

A collision protection apparatus for a measurement instrument the measurement instrument comprising:

• a rotatable mounting for rotating a component to be measured;
• a measurement probe configured to:
• perform a surface measurement of the component as the component rotates on the rotatable mounting;
• and,
• move relative to the component at a movement speed;
• the collision protection apparatus comprising:
• a proximity sensor configured to provide a proximity signal indicative of the proximity of the measurement probe to the component;
• and
• a control means configured to monitor the proximity signal and to reduce the movement speed in the event that the proximity signal indicates that the measurement probe is within a threshold distance of the component.