Digitizing control apparatus

Abstract

A digitizing control apparatus successively receives positional data and produces NC data while tracing the shape of a model. The digitizing control apparatus has a tracer head (3) having first and second non-contact-type distance detectors (30a, 30b) for independently measuring distances up to the surface of the model, the first and second non-contact-type distance detectors being positioned to travel parallel to a feed direction. A sampling circuit (16) samples measured values from the first and second distance detectors (30a, 30b) at predetermined times. A memory (13) stores a previously sampled measured value from the non-contact-type distance detector (30a) and a previously sampled measured value from the non-contact-type distance detector (30b). Data in a normal direction of the model surface (4) are determined based on at least three of the previously sampled measured values, a presently sampled measured value from the non-contact-type distance detector (30a), and a presently sampled measured value from the non-contact-type distance detector (30b). Therefore, the data in the normal direction can be obtained at high speed. The data in the normal direction thus determined are used in the determination of a tool offset, for example.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.