Renishaw Plc

Colin Ray Bulled

David R McMurtry

Geoffrey McFarland

Nicholas John Weston

Kevyn Barry Jonas

Stephen Mark Angood

Christopher Kemp

Marcus James Eales

David James Fook

Finlay Jonathan Evans

Serge Cresson

David Roberts Mcmurtry

Geoffrey Mcfarland

A non-Cartesian coordinate positioning machine is provided that comprises an extendable leg assembly for positioning a component such as a measurement probe within a working volume of the machine, and a constraint member associated with the extendable leg assembly for providing a predetermined part of the extendable leg assembly with substantially a same orientation relative to gravity for a same position of the component within the working volume. In a preferred embodiment, the orientation relative to gravity is maintained substantially constant, so that a plane defined by the predetermined part is substantially aligned with gravity, as the component is moved around the working volume.

Coordinate positioning machine

A wireless device is described that comprises a spread spectrum radio-frequency (RF) communications portion, such as a Bluetooth module, and an ancillary RF receiver portion. The spread spectrum RF communications portion is activated on receipt of a characteristic RF signal by the ancillary RF receiver portion. The ancillary RF receiver portion may consume substantially less power than the spread spectrum RF communications portion thereby allowing a low power standby mode to be implemented. The wireless device may be a measurement probe, such as a temperature probe, for use with machine tools and the like. An interface for transmitting the characteristic RF signal is also described.

Wireless communications device and method

Apparatus for a co-ordinate positioning machine is described that comprises an articulating probe head for supporting a measurement probe. The articulating probe head comprises at least one electric motor. Heating means are provided for generating heat in the articulating probe head. The heating means may be the motors or discrete heating elements. Temperature sensing means, such as one or more temperature sensors, is also provided for determining the temperature at the articulating probe head. The apparatus allows the temperature of the articulating probe head to be controlled.

Articulating probe head apparatus and method

Position measurement apparatus, such as hexapod co-ordinate measuring machine, is described that comprises a thrust frame and a metrology frame. The thrust frame comprises a load carrying base connected to a moveable platform by a plurality of powered extendable legs. The metrology frame comprising a metrology base attached to the load carrying base by a base attachment mechanism such as kinematic mounts. The base attachment mechanism is arranged to prevent any distortions of the load carrying base being transmitted to the metrology base.

Metrology apparatus

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Exeter, United Kingdom

Colin Ray Bulled