Surface sensing device
AssigneeRenishaw PLC
InventorsDavid Sven Wallace, Peter Hajdukiewicz, Geoffrey McFarland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for measuring a surface of a workpiece is described. The apparatus comprises a support, attachable to the moveable arm of a machine, such as a coordinate positioning machine, and rotatable about first and second axes of rotation, the axes driven by first and second motors respectively. The apparatus additionally comprises a surface sensing device for sensing the surface of a workpiece, rotatable about a third axis of rotation. This third axis of rotation is alignable with the first axis of rotation, and when aligned, rotation of the support relative to the surface sensing device is actuatable by the first motor. A method for using an apparatus for measuring a surface of a workpiece is also described.
Claims32
An apparatus for measuring a surface of a workpiece comprising:
- a support;
- an attachment device configured to attach the support to a moveable arm of a machine;
- a surface sensing device configured to sense the surface of the workpiece;
- the support including:
- a first member rotatable relative to the attachment device about a first axis of rotation, actuated by a first motor, and
- a second member rotatable relative to the first member about a second axis of rotation, actuated by a second motor;
- wherein the second axis of rotation is transverse to the first axis of rotation and wherein the surface sensing device is attachable to the second member for rotation therewith;
- a rotation device configured to allow rotation of the surface sensing device with respect to the support about a third axis of rotation, the third axis of rotation is alignable with the first axis of rotation,
- wherein when the first and third axes of rotation are aligned, rotation of the support relative to the surface sensing device is actuatable by the first motor;
- and
- a holder configured to hold the surface sensing device stationary during said rotation of the support relative to the surface sensing device.
A method for using an apparatus for measuring a surface of a workpiece, the apparatus including a support, an attachment device configured to attach the support to a moveable arm of a machine, a surface sensing device for sensing the surface of the workpiece, the support including a first member rotatable relative to the attachment device about a first axis of rotation, actuated by a first motor, and a second member rotatable relative to the first member about a second axis of rotation, actuated by a second motor;
- wherein the second axis of rotation is transverse to the first axis of rotation and wherein the surface sensing device is attachable to the second member for rotation therewith, a rotation device configured to allow rotation of the surface sensing device with respect to the support about a third axis of rotation, wherein the third axis of rotation is alignable with the first axis of rotation, and a holder configured to hold the surface sensing device stationary during said rotation of the support relative to the surface sensing device, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
- aligning the first and third rotational axes;
- and
- activating the first motor so as to actuate rotation of the support relative to the surface sensing device.
An apparatus for measuring a surface of a workpiece comprising:
- a support;
- an attachment device configured to attach the support to a moveable arm of a machine;
- a unidirectional probe or surface finish probe configured to sense the surface of the workpiece;
- the support including:
- a first member rotatable relative to the attachment device about a first axis of rotation, actuatable by a first motor;
- and
- a second member rotatable relative to the first member about a second axis of rotation, actuatable by a second motor;
- wherein the second axis of rotation is transverse to the first axis of rotation and wherein the unidirectional probe or surface finish probe is attachable to the second member for rotation therewith;
- and
- a rotation device configured to allow rotation of the unidirectional probe or surface finish probe with respect to the support about a third axis of rotation, the unidirectional probe or surface finish probe being configured to sense a surface in a direction transverse to the third axis of rotation.
A method for using an apparatus for measuring a surface of a workpiece, the apparatus comprising a support, an attachment device for attaching the support to a moveable arm of a machine, a unidirectional probe or surface finish probe configured to sense the surface of the workpiece, the support including a first member rotatable relative to the attachment device about a first axis of rotation, actuatable by a first motor, and a second member rotatable relative to the first member about a second axis of rotation, actuatable by a second motor;
- wherein the second axis of rotation is transverse to the first axis of rotation and the unidirectional probe or surface finish probe is attachable to the second member for rotation therewith, and a rotation device for allowing rotation of the unidirectional probe or surface finish probe with respect to the support about a third axis of rotation, the unidirectional probe or surface finish probe senses a surface in a direction transverse to the third axis of rotation, the method comprising:
- activating the rotation device to orient the unidirectional probe or surface finish probe relative to the support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.