Method of determining measurement probe orientation
AssigneeRenishaw PLC
InventorsJonathan Paul Fuge, Michael John Wooldridge, Jamie John Buckingham, Peter Kenneth Hellier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dimensional measurement probe (10) is mounted in a machine tool (48), which reorientates the probe about at least one axis A. Strain gauges (34) sense when a stylus (20) of the probe contacts a workpiece (50), to produce a trigger signal. False trigger signals may be produced when the probe is reorientated. To overcome this, the reorientation is detected by monitoring changes in the fluctuations of the strain gauge outputs, caused by vibrations of the stylus.
Claims16
A dimensional measurement probe, the probe being mountable to a machine which reorientates the probe about at least one axis, the probe compnsing:
- a probe body;
- a stylus for contacting an object;
- a stylus contact sensor connected to the stylus and producing a signal when the stylus contacts the object;
- means for processing the signal from the sensor and producing an output for measurement of the object as a result of such contact, said signal being subject to a change caused by reorientation of the probe about said at least one axis;
- and
- means for determining when such reorientation has taken place, wherein said means for determining when such reorientation has taken place are located within the probe body.
A dimensional measurement probe, the probe being mountable to a machine which reorientates the probe about at least one axis, the probe comprising:
- a probe body;
- a stylus for contacting an object:
- a stylus contact sensor connected to the stylus and producing a signal when the stylus contacts the object;
- a processor that processes the signal from the sensor and produces an output for measurement of the object as a result of such contacts, said signal being subject to a change caused by reorientation of the probe about said at least one axis;
- and
- a reorientation detector that determines when reorientation of the probe about said at least one axis has taken place, wherein said reorientation detector comprises a separate orientation sensor located within said probe body.
A dimensional measurement probe, the probe being mountable to a machine which reorientates the probe about at least one axis, the probe comprising:
- a stylus for contacting an object;
- a stylus contact sensor connected to the stylus and producing a signal when the stylus contacts the object;
- a processor for processing the signal from the sensor and producing an output for measurement of the object as a result of such contact;
- said signal being subject to a change caused by reorientation of the probe about said axis;
- wherein said processor operates to monitor said change in the signal caused by reorientation, and to determine therefrom when such reorientation has taken place.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.