Renishaw Plc

Reinshaw Plc

David Collingwood

Jonathan Paul Fuge

Tim Prestidge

David Kenneth Thomas

Graham Richard Ferguson

Timothy Donald Hayter

Clive Esmond Harwood Renton

Edward Stott

Geoffrey Salt

David R McMurtry

Robert John Bragg

Robin William Cashmore

Mark Acres

David Roberts Mcmurtry

An analog probe for a machine tool apparatus, including a probe body and a stylus member movably secured to the probe body in a suspended rest position via a suspension mechanism. A sensor is provided for measuring the extent of displacement of the stylus member relative to the probe body from a rest position. The analog probe further includes a first compliant sealing member extending between the probe body and stylus member such that the sensor is contained within a chamber sealed from external contaminants. The analog probe also has for a suppressor for suppressing movement of the stylus member away from its suspended rest position induced by changes in the chamber's internal pressure and/or changes in the analog probe's operating environment.

Analogue measurement probe for a machine tool apparatus

An analogue probe for a machine tool apparatus, which includes a probe body, a stylus member movably secured to the probe body and a sensor that measures the extent of displacement of the stylus member relative to the probe body, in which the sensor is contained within a chamber in the probe body. The analogue probe further includes a vent between the chamber and the outside of the probe body, configured such that, when the vent is open, the pressure within the chamber can equalize with the analogue probe's operating environment's pressure, and is further configured such that the vent's opening to the outside of the probe body can be closed so as to seal the chamber and the sensor from external contaminants during operation of the analogue probe.

Analogue measurement probe for a machine tool apparatus and method of operation

The invention relates to the transmission of power and/or data from/to a stationary part of a machine toolto/from an accessorymounted in the spindleof the machine tool. A first electrical link or interfaceprovides electrical communication between the stationary partand the spindle, and a second electrical link or interfaceis provided electrically connected to the first electrical link at the accessory mounting area. The second linkis in the form of electrical contacts. The invention extends to an accessory shankfor mounting to the spindleof the machine tool, and also to an accessorye.g. in the form of a measurement probe, connected to the said shank

Machine adaptation

A probe has internal circuitry capable of operating in a plurality of different modes, for example a variety of filter modes and turn off modes. A switch on the probe sends an input to a controller which is arranged to set the mode in response to operation of the switch. The switch may be a push button which is operated externally of the probe by means of an actuator in the form of a plunger. The probe has a workpiece-contacting stylus mounted on a seat from which it is deflectable. The stylus and the seat may comprise the switch. An indicator, e.g., an LED, indicates the mode in response to an output from the controller. The controller outputs a plurality of indications of different modes in a sequence and a mode is selected by operating the switch once the desired mode is indicated.

Machine tool probe

The transmission of power and/or data from/to a stationary part of a machine tool to/from an accessory mounted in the spindle of the machine tool. A first electrical link or interface provides electrical communication between the stationary part and the spindle, and a second electrical link or interface is provided electrically connected to the first electrical link at the accessory mounting area. The second link is in the form of electrical contacts. An accessory shank for mounting to the spindle of the machine tool, and also to an accessory e.g. in the form of a measurement probe, connected to the said shank.

The invention relates to the transmission of power and/or data from/to a stationary part of a machine toolto/from an accessorymounted in the spindleof the machine tool. A first electrical link or interfaceprovides electrical communication between the stationary partand the spindleand a second electrical link or interfaceis provided electrically connected to the first electrical link at the accessory mounting areaThe second linkis in the form of electrical contacts. The invention extends to an accessory shankfor mounting to the spindleof the machine tool, and also to an accessorye.g. in the form of a measurement probe, connected to the said shank

A probe () for a machine tool has a switch () or other sensor for connecting its battery power supply in response to movement of the probe. In a preferred embodiment, the switch responds to rotation of the probe in the machine tool spindle. The switch () is responsive to linear accelerations, but is mounted in the probe so as to respond also to the rotation. A circuit is provid to discriminate between the rotation and linear movements.

Probe for sensing the position of an object

A probehas internal circuitry capable of operating in a plurality of different modes, for example a variety of filter modes and turn off modes. A switch on the probe sends an input to a controller which is arranged to preset the mode in response to operation of the switch. The switch may be a push buttonwhich is operated externally of the probeby means of an actuator in the form of a plungerThe probe has a workpiece-contacting stylusmounted on a seat from which it is deflectable. The stylus and the seat may comprise the switch. An indicator, eg an LEDindicates the mode in response to an output from the controller. The controller outputs a plurality of indications of different modes in a sequence and a mode is selected by operating the switch once the desired mode is indicated.

An optical signal transmission circuit for a probe is switched on by an optical switch-on signal comprising a burst of pulses having a predetermined length. This is detected by a circuit which discriminates whether an input signal is a genuine switch-on signal or an interference burst , on the basis of the duration of the switch-on signal.

Machine tool probe with wireless signal transmission

A trigger probe 10 has electrical contacts which open when the probe contacts a workpiece. This is detected by a comparator 17 to produce a trigger signal. If spurious signals are generated at the probe contacts as a result of vibration, these are filtered out by a capacitor C1, which charges up when the contacts open and introduces a time delay. When the probe contacts re-close after a normal trigger operation, the capacitor C1 is discharged through a discharge circuit, e.g. transistor TR1, so that the energy stored on the capacitor does not damage the probe contacts.

Trigger probe circuit

Probes (18A,18B,18C) can be interchangably mounted in the spindle (12) of a machine tool. Each probe has an optical signal transmission system, in which an optical signal from a light emitting diode (26) is transmitted to a receiver module 28. Such an arrangement requires a battery in the probe. To conserve battery power, the probe is normally in a stand-by mode, but can be switched on by an optical signal transmitted from the module 28 to a receiving photodiode 32 on the probe. This switch-on signal is modulated at a different frequency for each probe. Each probe contains a filter for the signal received by the photodiode 32, responsive only to the frequency of modulation of its own switch-on signal. Probes which are not intended to be switched on therefore do not react to the switch-on signal of another probe, thus conserving battery power further.

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Stroud, United Kingdom

David Collingwood