Apparatus and method for the position checking of a mechanical part

An apparatus for checking the position of a mechanical part, more particularly a free end of an elongate tool comprising:

• a frame, stationary with respect to the mechanical part to be checked,
• a base carrying a mechanical support, the base and the frame being movable with respect to each other along a longitudinal feed direction,
• an emitter for generating a light beam along a trajectory transverse with respect to the longitudinal feed direction, and a sensor, arranged along the trajectory of the light beam, the emitter and the sensor being coupled to the mechanical support in mutually defined positions, the sensor being adapted for providing signals indicative of reception and interruption of reception of the light beam,
• a transducer device for checking the relative position between the base and the frame,
• a processing, display and control unit, connected to the sensor and to the transducer device, for processing said signals of the sensor and for identifying the relative position between the base and the frame at said interruption of reception of the light beam, and
• a coupling mechanism between the mechanical support and the base adapted for enabling oscillations of the light beam with respect to the base substantially along a reference surface, and an activation device and transmission elements adapted for controlling said oscillations of the light beam with respect to the base.