Method of controlling a coordinate positioning machine for measurement of a workpiece
AssigneeRenishaw PLC
InventorsDavid R. McMurtry, Alexander T. Sutherland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coordinate positioning machine is equipped with either an optical probe or a contact measuring probe. Movement of the head of the machine to enable the probe to scan an unknown surface is controlled by predicting the position of a subsequent point to which the head of the machine is to be driven upon the basis of three most recently measured points, P.sub.1, P.sub.2, P.sub.3. The prediction of the subsequent point P.sub.4 is performed by machine control in real time.
Claims10
A method of controlling a coordinate positioning machine, the machine having a head, and a contact measuring probe connected to the head for sensing a distance between a surface and the head, the method controlling the machine to drive the head along a path adjacent an unknown workpiece surface, and to maintain the probe within measuring range of the surface, the method comprising the steps of:
- measuring, using the contact measuring probe, the position of at least three points on the surface of the workpiece and lying on the path traced by the head;
- predicting, in real time from at least the three previously measured points, the position of a subsequent point;
- and
- driving the head to a position at which the measuring probe lies within measuring range of the subsequent point.
- measuring, using the contact measuring probe, the position of at least two points on the surface of the workpiece and lying on the path traced by the head;
- predicting, in real time from the two previously measured points the position of a third point;
- and
- driving the head to a position at which the measuring probe lies within measuring range of the third point.
A method of controlling a coordinate positioning machine having a head, and a contact measuring probe connected to the head for sensing a distance between a surface and the head, the method controlling the machine to drive the head along an unknown path adjacent a workpiece surface, and to maintain the probe within measuring range of the surface, the method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.