Tracing control system

Abstract

A tracing control system for tracing a groove counter can easily measure the groove contour formed on a three-dimensional model surface. A tracer head is provided with a stylus having a size enabling the stylus to slide in a groove formed on the model surface in the state that the stylus receives a load from three axial directions. Amount of displacement sensing means senses the amount of displacement of the stylus. Displacement vector calculation means calculates the displacement vector of the stylus based on the sensed amount of displacement of the stylus. Movement control means controls the positional movement of the tracer head so that the displacement vector is equal to a predetermined vector value at all times. Position sensing means senses the present position of the tracer head. Data creation means creates digitized data based on the sensed present position of the tracer head and the amount of displacement of the stylus.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.