US 5,510,977 A · Method and apparatus for measuring features of a part or item

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring position and orientation of features of a part or item, using a portable coordinate measuring machine (CMM) is presented. A master or standard reference file for the part and its features is generated. Equivalents are manufactured to match the features of the part to be measured. The CMM is positioned within reach of the part. A coordinated system is defined either relative to the part to be measured or to the overall assembly. The equivalent is held in position by an operator. The dimensions of the equivalent and the position of a measurement hole in the equivalent are known and are accounted for by the computer when measurements are taken. The probe of the CMM is used to digitize the position of measurement hole, thereby digitizing that feature of the part. It will be appreciated that all the features of the part for which measurement is desired are digitized in this manner. These digitized positions for each feature are stored in the computer memory and compared to the reference file.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A method of measuring position and orientation of at least one feature of an item using a dimensional coordinate measuring system having a probe for digitizing coordinates, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an equivalent having a geometrical shape which conforms to the feature being measured, said equivalent having a measurement element, said measurement element being aligned relative to said geometrical shape of said equivalent;
establishing a reference coordinate system;
positioning said geometrical shape of said equivalent at the feature being measured;
and
probing said measurement element in said equivalent using said probe to provide a digitized coordinate relative to said reference coordinate system, said digitized coordinate corresponding to a position of said measurement element in said equivalent, whereby the position and orientation of the feature is provided.

2 more elements

A method of verifying position and orientation of at least one feature of an item using a dimensional coordinate measuring system having a probe for digitizing coordinates, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a known reference position and orientation of the feature being verified;
providing an equivalent having a geometrical shape which conforms to the feature being verified, said equivalent having a measurement element, said measurement element being aligned relative to said geometrical shape of said equivalent;
establishing a reference coordinate system;
positioning said geometrical shape of said equivalent at the feature being verified;
probing said measurement element in said equivalent using said probe to provide a digitized coordinate relative to said reference coordinate system, said digitized coordinate corresponding to a position of said measurement element in said equivalent, whereby a measured position and orientation of the feature is provided;
and
comparing said measured position and orientation of the feature to said reference position and orientation of the feature, whereby the position and orientation of the feature are verified.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for measuring features of a part or item

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for measuring features of a part or item

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32