US 5,259,120 A · Calibration and measurement device

Abstract

A ball-bar 26 for calibrating machine tools and coordinate measuring machines comprise a unit 30 containing a displacement transducer 34 for measuring axial displacement of a precision ball 28. The ball 28 is pivotably located on the head or spindle 12 of the machine, which is driven in a circle about a ball 22 mounted on the bed or table 10 of the machine at the other end of the ball-bar in order to perform a calibration. The ball-bar has a modular construction, its various components such as the unit 30, extension bar 40, magnetic sockets 24,29, supporting device 14 and magnetic clamp 16 being connected together via M6 screw-threads, e.g. at 18,42,44. This enables the unit 30 to be connected to the various other components in a variety of configurations, e.g. for use as an electronic dial gauge.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A calibration device for calibrating a coordinate positioning machine having two machine parts which are movable in two or three dimensions relative to each other, the device comprising:

an elongate bar;
a first reference element at one end of the bar and a second reference element at a location on the bar spaced from the first reference element, said first and second reference elements each being pivotably connectable to a respective one of said machine parts;
telescopic means for permitting the first reference element to move in an axial direction of the bar relative to the second reference element;
a transducer for measuring such movement;
and a rigid support member which is releasably connectable to the bar, the rigid support member comprising means for securing the bar rigidly to the machine.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Calibration and measurement device

Life of this patent

Calibration and measurement device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12