Renishaw Plc

Alexander David Scott Ellin

James Reynolds Henshaw

David R McMurtry

Wesley Andrew Heawood

The invention provides a substrate treatment method and apparatus. Embodiments show a substrate in the form of a rotary encoder ring having a pattern of marks producable by means of a laser treatment device controllable to produce the pattern in the correct manner while there is continuous relative displacement between the ring and the laser treatment device.

Substrate treatment device and method and encoder scale treated by this method

A method of making metrological scale for scale reading apparatus includes directing a laser beam onto a scale substrate (). The laser parameters are such that the local area of the scale substrate () on which the laser beam is incident is caused to be displaced, thus creating scale markings ().

Method and apparatus for scale manufacture without substantial removal of material

A method and apparatus is disclosed for producing precision marks () for a metrological scale in the form of a stainless steel ribbon (). A laser () is used to produce ultra-short pulses, which have a fluence at the ribbon such that ablation takes place. The laser light can be scanned via scanner () and the pitch of the marks () can be controlled. The ablative technique causes little thermal input and improves the accuracy of the scale.

Laser marking

A metrological scale track comprising at least first and second metrological scale track strips. The at least first and second metrological scale track strips are held in a spaced apart relationship by at least one spacer. The at least one spacer is configured to be removed once the at least first and second metrological scale track strips have been secured to a substrate.

Scale track

The invention provides a substrate treatment method and apparatus. Embodiments show a substrate in the form of a rotary encoder ring having a pattern of marks producable by means of a laser treatment device controllable to produce the pattern in the correct manner whilst there is continuous relative displacement between the ring and the laser treatment device.

A rotary ring for use in scale reading apparatus, comprises a flexible ring () which has scale markings () provided on a surface thereof. The rotary ring is mounted onto a machine part () by providing the machine part with a region of increased diameter () and stretching or shrinking the flexible rotary scale () over said region of increased diameter. The manufacturing tolerance of the rotary scale or differential e.g. thermal expansion is thus taken up by stretching or shrinking it into place. The region of increased diameter may comprise an annular protrusion or an O-ring, for example.

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Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

Alexander David Scott Ellin