Articulated arm coordinate measuring machine
AssigneeLeica Geosystems AG
InventorBo Pettersson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) for determining a measuring position of a probe. The CMM comprises an articulated arm having first and second ends and at least one joint between the first and the second end, the first end forming a base being positionable on a supporting surface, the second end being movable relative to the first end and having attached the probe. Further exists at least one sensing unit for measurement of an actual relative setting of said at least one joint and at least one computing unit for calculating a measuring position of the probe relative to the base, as well as for referencing the measuring position in an external coordinate system by using a provided base-position in the external coordinate system.
Claims16
A coordinate measuring machine for determining a measuring position of a probe, comprising:
- an articulated arm having first and second ends and at least one joint between the first and the second ends, the first end forming a base being positionable on a supporting surface, the second end being movable relative to the first end and having attached the probe;
- at least one sensing unit for measurement of an actual relative setting of said at least one joint;
- and
- at least one computing unit for calculating a measuring position of the probe relative to the base;
- and for referencing the measuring position in an external coordinate system by using a provided base-position in the external coordinate system, wherein:
- the articulated arm includes a first inclinometer for measurement of a slope relative to an external vector referenced in the external coordinate system relative to the gravitational vector and for providing an electronic slope value;
- and
- the slope value is further used for referencing the measuring position in the external coordinate system.
A method for determining a measuring position of a probe of a coordinate measuring machine, the coordinate measuring machine including an articulated arm having first and second ends and at least one joint between the first and the second end, the first end forming a base being positionable on a supporting surface, the second end being movable relative to the first end and having attached the probe, the method comprising the steps of:
- measuring an actual relative setting of said at least one joint;
- calculating a measuring position of the probe relative to the base;
- referencing the measuring position in an external coordinate system by using a provided base-position in the external coordinate system;
- measuring a slope of at least one part of the articulated arm relative to an external vector referenced in the external coordinate system relative to the gravitational vector and providing a slope value;
- and
- further using the slope value for referencing the measuring position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.