Method and apparatus for numerically controlled probing

A method for determining a measured set of dimensions of at least one feature of an object, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting an ideal set of dimensions of the at least one feature;
• generating an amount and location of samples taken of the at least one feature based on the ideal set of dimensions;
• directing a probe to the location of the samples;
• outputting measured location points, each representing a three-dimensional location, where the probe makes contact with the object;
• calculating a numerical rotation of the measured location points, each of the points corresponding to one of the samples, about a designated one of the measured location points until each of the rotated location points is lying on a two dimensional plane;
• calculating a rotated measured set of dimensions using the numerically rotated location points;
• and
• calculating a numerical counter-rotation of the rotated measured set of dimensions around the designated one of the location points to determine the measured set of the dimensions.

A method of simplifying a calculation of a series of three-dimensional data points sampled along 5 axes of a Numerically Controlled machine by repositioning the series of three-dimensional data points such that each of the data points is lying along a plane defined by an X and Y axes, allowing the calculation of a measured set of dimensions by the Numerically Controlled machine to be performed rapidly, said method comprising the steps of:

• designating a first point of the data points sampled along the 5 axes of the Numerically Controlled machine as an origin for defining each remaining one of the data points in polar coordinates;
• calculating a numerical rotation of each of the data points by some angle, except the first point, around the origin until all newly positioned points are parallel with the Y-axes of the Numerically Controlled machine;
• and
• calculating a numerical rotation of the rotated newly positioned data points around the origin until the series of data points is lying along the plane defined by the X and Y axes of the Numerically Controlled machine.