Carl-zeiss-stiftung

Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik Gmbh

Berndt Kammleiter

Otto Ruck

Ralf Bernhardt

Karl-Hermann Breyer

Guenter Grupp

Horst Ballmer

Gunter Grupp

Klaus-Peter Koch

Wolfgang Wiedmann

Ulrich Nagele

A machine, such as a coordinate measuring machine, uses a material measure with a periodic division in order to determine spatial positions of a working or measuring head. The periodic division of the material measure is further subdivided by interpolation values. For the purpose of correcting interpolation errors, the head is moved to a plurality of positions and a plurality of position data is determined. The plurality of position data represents a position curve of the head. A periodic component in the position curve is determined, which periodic component corresponds approximately to the periodic division of the material measure. Correction values are determined and the interpolation values are corrected using the correction values such that the periodic component is substantially reduced or largely eliminated.

Correction of interpolation errors of a machine, such as a coordinate measuring machine

A coordinate measuring apparatus for measuring a workpiece with a probe head having a probe element for contacting the workpiece. The coordinate measuring apparatus includes: a plurality of sensors with each sensor supplying a signal indicative of a coordinate measurement position and a processing unit. An interface device between the plurality of sensors and the processing unit receives the signals and supplies a plurality of output signals to the processing unit representing respective position measurement values at any given instant of time. The processing unit includes at least one smoothing function block for continuously receiving a portion of the position measurement values. The smoothing function block is adapted to determine a final position measurement value (X.sub.E, Y.sub.E, Z.sub.E or R.sub.E) of the contact point of the probe element on the workpiece in a defined standstill of the apparatus by averaging a defined number of the received position measurement values to form a mean value. The processing unit further includes a function block for triggering the averaging before the apparatus reaches standstill and continuing the averaging until standstill is determined.

Coordinate measuring apparatus wherein the measuring time is optimized

For rapid measurement of workpieces having elemental shapes of known geometry in any orientation in space, the elemental shapes are scanned on a coordinate measuring machine which is equipped with a measuring probe head having a permissible measurement range (MR). The computer of the measuring machine is programmed with basic data for establishing a predetermined path of probe-scanning contact with the workpiece, the predetermined path being so calculated (1) that the probe ball of the probe will remain in continuous contact with the workpiece surface, (2) that probe-head measurements always occur within the permissible measurement range (MR) of the probe head, and (3) that probe-ball displacements reflect probe-head measurements that are taken as measured corrections of the predetermined path. The control system of the coordinate measuring machine monitors the permissible measurement range (MR) of the probe head and corrects for such bending of the probe pin as may occur in the course of scanning along the predetermined path.

Method of measuring elemental shapes of a workpiece on a coordinate

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the quantity of emitted light in an optical measuring head. The control of the emitted light quantity of a laser diode mounted in the optical measuring head is dependent upon the stray light characteristics of the workpiece and is achieved by controlling the pulse width of the laser diode. The light pulses are synchronized with the machine clock frequency of the coordinate measuring apparatus on which the measuring head is fixedly mounted such that the center of the pulse coincides always with the counter strobe of the measuring system of the coordinate measuring apparatus.

Method and apparatus for controlling the quantity of emitted light in an

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Oberkochen, Germany

Berndt Kammleiter