US 5,521,707 AGranted

Laser scanning method and apparatus for rapid precision measurement of thread form

AssigneeApeiron, Inc.

InventorsGlen M. Castore, Frederick A. Treiber, Barry L. Drake

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Abstract

A non-contact laser-based sensor guided by a precision mechanical system scans a thread form producing a set of digitized images of the thread form. The digitized images are analyzed to derive quantitative information about thread characteristics such as pitch, lead, root radius, flank angle, surface roughness, helix variation, and pitch diameter. Thread form data may be stored and later retrieved in order to provide traceability and verification of thread form measurements to a predetermined thread form specification. The apparatus and method of the invention can measure characteristics for shapes similar to threads, such as gears and dies used for cold forming processes. The thread measurement system can be mounted on thread making machines and used for on-line monitoring and control of the thread forming process.

Claims4

Dependent claims

An apparatus for determining crest height of a threadform for use in a precision thread form analysis, the crest height determining apparatus comprising:

(a) means for generating a thread profile array wherein the thread profile array includes a plurality of data points including a first data point and including array height data;
(b) means for initializing the first data point wherein the initializing means is coupled to the generating means to receive the thread profile array;
(c) means for analyzing a first difference of the array height data for all elements of the thread profile array, the analyzing means being coupled to receive the thread profile array and first data point;
(d) means for comparing the first difference of array height data with a predetermined crest threshold, the comparing means being coupled to receive the first difference of array height data, wherein the comparing means is also coupled to a crest threshold determiner and wherein the comparing means outputs a compared value;
(e) means for building a crest array of indices wherein the building means is coupled to the comparing means output, and where the compared value indicates that the predetermined crest threshold is less than the first difference of array height;
(f) means for reporting error if the predetermined crest threshold is exceeded;
and
(g) means for storing the crest array of indices.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.