Contact wheel automated digitizer with visible sensing of marked reference points
AssigneePruvel Corporation
InventorDavid G. Firth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A digitizer for use in computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems for making orthotic and prosthetic devices includes a movably mounted pendent arm having a free end with a contact wheel mounted to the free end for making rolling contact with the surface of a three dimensional shape to create reference points for the CAD/CAM to accurately create an orthotic or prosthetic device. The digitizer is automated by mounting a sensor tip at the free end of the pendent arm for automatically visibly sensing marked reference points on the surface of the shape.
Claims8
In a contact wheel digitizer for use in computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems for making orthotic and/or prosthetic devices wherein the digitizer includes a movably mounted pendent arm having a free end with a contact wheel mounted to the free end for making rolling contact with the surface of a three dimensional shape for creating reference points for the CAD/CAM to accurately create an orthotic or prosthetic device, the improvement being in that a sensor tip is mounted to said free end of said pendent arm for automatically visibly sensing marked reference points on the surface of the shape.
In a method of making orthotic and/or prosthetic devices with the use of a contact wheel digitizer which detects reference points for CAD/CAM systems, the improvement being in automatically visibly sensing marked reference points.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.