Mounting for coordinate measuring machine arms and probes
OwnerHans W. Sprandelinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to coordinate measuring machines which are used for determining the location of a point in the X, Y and Z axes in order to permit inspection, checking, or performing other operations on work pieces. The measuring machine includes a probe for engaging the work piece and providing position information of points on the work piece. The probe is mounted on a cantilever arm that is supported on two parallel dual granite ways or rails through air film bearings. The probe is counterbalanced in a unique manner with an air cylinder and is also mounted on air bearings on its cantilevered support arm, and the probe may be rotated 360.degree. for maximum flexibility and ease of operation.
Claims16
A support for a probe of a coordinate machine, including a first mounting member, means mounting said first mounting member for movement along a first axis, and a probe assembly including a shaft having a longitudinal axis and being axially slidably mounted with respect to said first mounting member in a direction along the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said shaft further being rotatable with respect to said first mounting member, a shaft mounting block, said shaft being rotatably mounted in said shaft mounting block and restrained from axial movement relative to said shaft mounting block, support means for said mounting block mounted fixedly with respect to said first mounting member and having a portion positioned spaced from the first mounting member and including means to slidably guide said mounting block for nonrotational sliding movement as the shaft is moved relative to the first mounting member, and means to releasably lock said shaft relative to said mounting block.
In a coordinate measuring machine having a support table with a reference surface and a support arm with a longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising means adjacent one end of said support arm mounting said support arm for movement thereof relative to said table along one coordinate axis, said means mounting said support arm comprising a pair of parallel ways spaced apart in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said arm but being adjacent, and being connected to and spaced above said table, said ways being positioned to provide a substantial work area to one side of said ways, and bearing means connected to said arm and supporting said arm on both of said ways to permit movement of said arm along the ways while being supported by both of said ways, said arm being cantilevered from said ways over said work area, said bearing means each comprising an air bearing relative to the ways, the bearing means for the way adjacent said work area including a plate generally parallel to and spaced from the reference surface, and means to provide an air film support between said plate and the reference surface.
In a coordinate measuring machine including means providing a reference planar support surface and having a support arm with a longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising means mounting said support arm for movement thereof along one coordinate axis adjacent one end of said arm, said means mounting comprising a pair of parallel ways fixedly mounted with respect to said means providing a reference support surface and being spaced apart in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said arm and a first of said ways having portions overlying and spaced from said reference support surface, and bearing means acting between both of said ways and said arm to permit movement of said arm along the ways while being supported by both of said ways, said arm having an outer end cantilevered over the reference support surface and extending from said first way, said bearing means including a plate positioned between said portions of said first way and said reference support surface, said plate having a plate surface parallel to and facing said reference support surface, and means to form an air film bearing between said plate surface and said reference support surface.
In a coordinate measuring machine including a table having a reference planar support surface and a probe support arm with a longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising means mounting said probe support arm adjacent one end of said probe support arm for movement thereof along one coordinate axis which is substantially parallel to said reference support surface, said means mounting comprising way means for supporting said probe support arm in position with portions of said probe support arm cantilevered over said reference support surface, said way means having a support surface, and air bearing means mounted on said probe support arm and supporting said probe support arm relative to the support surface of said way means to permit movement of said probe support arm along said way means and to permit movement relative to said reference support surface, said air bearing means including a bearing portion overlying a part of said reference support surface, said bearing portion facing said reference support surface of said table, and means to form an air film bearing between said bearing portion and said reference support surface to provide a support for said probe support arm relative to the reference support surface in addition to the surface of said way means.
A support for a probe of a coordinate measuring machine including a first mounting member, means mounting said first mounting member for movement along a first axis, and a probe assembly including a tubular shaft member having a longitudinal axis, second means mounting said tubular shaft member relative to said first mounting member to permit sliding movement of said tubular shaft member in opposite directions along its longitudinal axis, a probe portion mounted at the lower end of said tubular shaft member, means to counterbalance said probe portion and said tubular shaft member comprising fluid pressure cylinder means positioned on the interior of said tubular shaft member, said cylinder means having a cylinder member and actuable rod member, means to support one of said cylinder and rod members fixedly with respect to said second means comprising an upright member, a mounting portion supported by said upright member and overlying the tubular shaft member and permitting the tubular shaft member to be moved relative to the mounting portion to a fully raised position during operation, means to support the other of said cylinder and rod members relative to said tubular shaft member, means to provide a desired fluid pressure to said cylinder to tend to counter-balance the weight of said probe assembly, said upright member having a slot extending in direction along the longitudinal axis of said tubular shaft member, and adjustable stop means mounted in said slot to provide a stop to limit movement of said shaft member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.