Renishaw Plc

Benjamin Jason Merrifield

Edward Benjamin Egglestone

Victor Gordon Stimpson

Alan James Holloway

Derek Marshall

David R McMurtry

Jonathan Paul Fuge

Graham Richard Ferguson

William Kenneth Davies

Stephen Lindsey Tocknell

William Martin Barnard

Samuel David Hoyle

Paul Andrews

A measurement apparatus for mounting within an enclosure of a machine is described. The apparatus includes a measurement device and a protection means for protecting the measurement device from contaminants present within the machine enclosure. The protection means is switchable between at least a first mode that protects the measurement device from contaminants and a second mode that provides less protection of the measurement device from contaminants than the first mode. A contaminant sensor is used for sensing contamination within the machine enclosure and thereby determining when the protection means can adopt the second mode. A corresponding method is also described.

Measurement apparatus and method

A method assesses the beam profile of a light beam of a non-contact tool setting apparatus, the apparatus including a transmitter for emitting the light beam and a receiver for receiving the light beam. The receiver generates a beam intensity signal describing the intensity of received light. The apparatus is mounted to a machine tool having a spindle that is moveable relative to the non-contact tool setting apparatus. The method includes loading an object having an edge into the spindle of the machine tool and using the machine tool to move the spindle relative to the apparatus so that the edge of the object passes through the light beam. The beam profile of the light beam is then determined using the beam intensity signal generated at a plurality of positions during the step (ii) of moving the edge of the object through the light beam.

Apparatus and method for assessing the beam profile of a non-contact tool setting apparatus

A method for tool measurement using a non-contact tool setting apparatus mounted to a machine tool, which includes a transmitter for emitting a light beam having a beam width and a receiver for receiving the light beam. The receiver generates a beam intensity signal describing the intensity of received light. The method is for measuring a tool having a nominal tool diameter less than the beam width so fully inserting the tool feature into the light beam would only partially occlude the beam. The method includes moving the tool through the beam thereby causing a change in the intensity signal and generating a trigger signal when the intensity signal crosses a trigger threshold. The tool size is derived using the trigger signal generated. Also, a step of applying a tool length correction that accounts for the nominal tool diameter of the tool being less than the beam width.

Non-contact tool setting apparatus and method

A tool setting or tool analysis device for a machine tool includes a light source for producing a light beam. A light receiver receives the light beam and produces a signal indicative of the amount of light received. This is analyzed by a main analysis circuit to generate a trigger signal to a machine controller when the beam is at least partially occluded. To provide fail-safe operation should the main circuit not recognize the tool, a back-up trigger signal is produced after a delay by a delay circuit. In one preferred form, the back-up trigger signal may oscillate, providing repeated edges which can ensure fail-safe operation even if the machine controller suffers from a blind window and therefore misses the initial trigger signal.

Tool setting or analysis device with backup or repeated trigger signal for detecting a rotating tool

An object detector apparatus. The object detector apparatus comprises a receiver which is configured to receive a signal from an object having a repetitive motion, in which the signal repeats at a frequency that is dependent on the frequency of the repetitive motion of the object. The object detector apparatus further comprises an analyzer which is configured to sample a signal received by the receiver according to a first set of sampling parameters into a first sampled data set, and to produce an output based on a comparison of the first sampled data set with at least one previously sampled data set. The analyzer is also operable to sample a signal received by the receiver using a second set of sampling parameters which differs to the first set of sampling parameters into a second sampled data set, and to produce an output based on a comparison of the second sampled data set with at least one previously sampled data set.

Object detector apparatus and method

A tool setting or tool analysis device for a machine tool comprises a light source for producing a light beam. A light receiver receives the light beam and produces a signal indicative of the amount of light received. This is analyzed by a main analysis circuit to generate a trigger signal to a machine controller when the beam is at least partially occluded. To provide fail-safe operation should the main circuit not recognize the tool, a back-up trigger signal is produced after a delay by a delay circuit. In one preferred form, the back-up trigger signal may oscillate, providing repeated edges which can ensure fail-safe operation even if the machine controller suffers from a blind window and therefore misses the initial trigger signal.

Tool setting or analysis device with backup or repeated trigger signal for detecting a tool

The invention relates to a measuring deviceof the type which detects the interruption of a beam of radiation (e.g. light) by an object () in the beam. The device includes a light emitterand a light detectoreach enclosed in a housingand. In order to accommodate different spacings between the housings different capshaving varying size aperturesare fittable to the housings. This allows varying amounts of light to be issued and/or detected. Other ways of adjusting the amount of light passing through the cap are disclosed.

Measuring device and method for detecting objects interrupting a beam of radiation

Described is a device which enables toolsetting on a machine tool. The device includes a light emitting unit ( ) and a light detecting unit ( ). A light source ( ) causes a light beam ( ) to propagate from the emitting unit ( ) to the detecting unit ( ). A light detector ( ) detects the presence or absence of the beam. A trigger signal is produced when occlusion occurs and so the position of an object can be determined by reference to the machine's coordinate readings. The beam ( ) may be uncollimated and thus provide a device with an easier set-up and a greater resistance to vibration in use. The light detector ( ) and/or light source may be protected from contamination by windows ( ) or a protector having an aperture therein. The light emitting and detecting units each have an aperture for the light beam. The apertures may be oblique conduits ( ) for pressurised air flow, thereby keeping the conduits free from contamination, while minimising turbulence in the path of the beam which could cause noise in the resulting signal.

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Bristol, United Kingdom

Benjamin Jason Merrifield