Fixture gauge and method of manufacturing same
OwnerBlair T. McKendrickinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fixture type gauge (20) includes a base (22) and a plurality of segment blocks (1-12) mounted on the base (22) configured and arranged to allow comparison of manufactured parts (46) with a reference standard. Under computer control, reference marks (36, 54, 56, etc.) and data (26) are laser etched on the gauge base and segment blocks to facilitate rapid, accurate assembly of the gauge parts and provide a permanent record on the gauge of part related information. Laser machined alignment holes (30, 32) in the gauge base establish a reference axis on the base which can then be used to physically align the gauge with an independent spatial coordinate system, such as that of a coordinate measuring machine.
Claims39
A method of manufacturing a gauge for checking conformance of features of a part with a reference standard, comprising the steps of:
- (A) providing a set of spatial coordinates defining said reference standard in terms of a three dimensional coordinate system;
- (B) producing a set of programmed, automated machine control instructions using said set of coordinates;
- (C) producing a plurality of gauge parts including a gauge and a plurality of gauge blocks;
- (D) etching reference marks on said gauge base and on at least certain of said gauge blocks using an automated machine controlled by said programmed instructions, said etching step including-
- (1) etching a first set of alignment marks on said base and said certain gauge blocks for aligning said certain gauge blocks relative each other on said base, and
- (2) etching a second set of alignment marks on said certain gauge blocks for use in positioning said part in a preselected attitude on said gauge, said first and second sets of marks defining said reference standard in terms of said three dimension coordinate system;
- and
- (E) securing said gauge blocks on said gauge base using said first set of reference marks to align said gauge blocks relative to said gauge base.
The method of claim step of:
- (F) automatically generating multidimensional views of at least certain of said gauge parts using said set of programmed instructions.
A method of manufacturing a gauge for comparing a part with a reference standard, comprising the steps of:
- (A) providing a set of spatial coordinates corresponding to said reference standard;
- (B) producing a programmed set of instructions using said set of spatial coordinates;
- (C) laser etching reference marks on a gauge base and a plurality of gauge segment blocks using a computer controlled laser beam operated by said programmed set of instructions;
- and,
- (D) mounting said segment blocks on said base using said reference marks to align said segment blocks relative to each other on said base.
A gauge assembly for comparing a part with a reference standard, said reference standard being defined at least in part by the spatial coordinates of the centerline of an ideal part, comprising:
- a base;
- a plurality of segment blocks mounted on said base;
- means on said segment blocks for supporting said part;
- first and second sets of alignment marks respectively on said base and said segment blocks, said alignment marks being disposed at preselected positions on said base and said segment blocks wherein said preselected positions are related to said spatial coordinates of said centerline of said ideal part, said first and second sets of alignment marks being respectively aligned with each other to verify that said segment blocks are mounted on said base in proper relationship with each other to define said standard.
A method of aligning a gauge relative to the coordinate system of a coordinate measuring machine, comprising the steps of:
- (A) forming a pair of spaced apart alignment apertures in the base of said gauge such that said apertures lie along a reference axis bearing a known relationship to at least certain surface features of said gauge;
- (B) placing said gauge base on a supporting surface associated with said coordinate measuring machine;
- (c) using the probe of said measuring machine to contact interior surfaces of said gauge base which define said apertures in order to determine the positions of said apertures in said coordinate system;
- (D) calculating the respective centerlines of said apertures, using the contact positions determined in step (C);
- (E) determining the position of said reference axis using the centerlines calculated in step (D).
A gauge alignment arrangement for use in aligning the physical feature of a gauge mounted on a base in known relationship to the coordinate system of a coordinate measuring machine, comprising:
- a pair of spaced apart inserts in said base, each of said inserts having an aperture therein and being formed of a dimensionally stable material, each of said apertures being defined by a cylindrical interior sidewall in a respective one of said inserts which may be contacted by a probe of said coordinate measuring machine in order to determine the respective centers of said apertures,
- the centers of said apertures being disposed in known relationship to the spatial coordinates of said physical features and lying along a reference axis establishing a known spatial relationship between the physical features of said gauge and the coordinate system of said measuring machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.