Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik Gmbh

Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology, LLC

Trw Automotive Gmbh

Dominik Seitz

Rainer Sagemueller

Nils Haverkamp

Tobias Held

Thomas Engel

Marcin B Bauza

Richard H Knebel

Lars Omlor

Tobias Woletz

Tanja Teuber

Claus-Peter Walny

Aksel Goehnermeier

Ralf Bernhardt

Thomas Moedinger

Frank Widulle

Andreas Fuchs

Oliver Gross

Steffen Kunzmann

Wilfried Bieg

Rainer Sagemüller

Daniel Plohmann

Philipp Jester

Christoph Kranz

David Hoecherl

Christoph-Hilmar Graf Vom Hagen

Andreas Ebser

Andreas Moebius

Benjamin Weber

Fabian Holzwarth

Steffen Strauß

Martin Withalm

Rainer SAGEMÜLLER

A method for operating an optical sensor, which has a movement controller that can be actuated by a user to control a movement of the sensor relative to a measurement object, includes identifying that the sensor is in a favorable state of movement relative to the measurement object, and generating and outputting a signal when the sensor is in the favorable state of movement to assist the user in keeping the sensor in the favorable state of movement, and/or inhibiting or blocking by machine a movement of the sensor which would cause the sensor to leave the favorable state of movement. To achieve a favorable orientation of the sensor, generating and outputting a third signal signals to the user to actuate the movement controller such that the sensor achieves the favorable orientation, and/or controlling by machine a movement of the sensor which causes the sensor to achieve the favorable orientation.

Operation of a coordinate measuring machine with a person-guided sensor

A method of producing a workpiece includes obtaining CAD data representing the workpiece in multiple workpiece layers. The CAD data includes multiple workpiece layer definitions corresponding respectively to the workpiece layers. The method includes selecting a first workpiece layer definition, preparing a powder bed of powder material on a build platform, and producing, based on the selected workpiece layer definition, a workpiece layer on the build platform by controlling a layer tool to selectively melt or sinter the powder material on the build platform. The method includes assessing the produced workpiece layer, including measuring the produced workpiece layer using a measuring head, analyzing the measurements of the produced workpiece layer, and, in response to the analysis indicating that the produced workpiece layer is defective, reprocessing the produced workpiece layer by controlling the layer tool to selectively melt or sinter the powder material on the build platform.

Method and system for producing a workpiece using additive manufacturing techniques

An articulating probe for a measurement device includes a base platform, a rotor platform that is movable relative to the base platform, and a sensor element coupled to the rotor platform. The rotor platform is coupled to the base platform via a spherical parallel kinematic system.

Articulating probe

A coordinate measuring machine has a measurement head having a point measurement device which measures first coordinates of only a single point on the surface of a workpiece at a given time. An area measurement device records images of a reference surface. A displacement device displaces the measurement head and/or the workpiece such that they assume different relative positions with respect to one another. An evaluation device calculates a shift between images that the area measurement device has recorded of the reference surface at different times at different relative positions, with a stitching algorithm. Based on this, second coordinates of the measurement head, which are defined relative to the reference surface, are determined. By linking the first coordinates with the second coordinates, third coordinates are determined, which define the points on the surface of the workpiece measured by the point measurement device relative to the reference surface.

Coordinate measuring machine and method for measuring coordinates of a workpiece

A method and an arrangement for capturing a mark arrangement including an optical mark arranged on an object, the method including capturing images of the mark arrangement together with points in time, determining first evaluation information by evaluating images captured with a first capturing device and further evaluation information by evaluating images captured with a further capturing device, each of the first and further evaluation information relating to respective points in time at which the images were captured, determining a value of a movement variable describing a relative movement between the object and the capturing devices at a predetermined point in time based on the evaluation information determined at the predetermined point in time; and determining the evaluation information of the capturing devices at the predetermined point in time based on images captured at other points in time when no image was captured at the predetermined point in time.

Arrangement and method for capturing a mark arrangement arranged on an object

A method of producing a workpiece by using additive manufacturing techniques includes obtaining CAD data representing the workpiece with workpiece layer definitions defining workpiece layers. The method includes selecting a first workpiece layer definition. The method includes preparing a powder bed of powder material on a build platform. The method includes measuring individual characteristics of the powder material on the build platform using a measuring head. The method includes producing, based on the selected workpiece layer definition, a workpiece layer on the build platform. The producing includes controlling a layer tool to selectively melt or sinter the powder material on the build platform. The producing is further based on the measured individual characteristics of the powder material to correct for detected flaws in the powder bed. The method includes selecting each one of the workpiece layer definitions and repeating the preparing, the measuring, and the producing for the selected definition.

Method and arrangement for producing a workpiece by using additive manufacturing techniques

An optical measuring system includes a calibration apparatus having at least one optical marker and a code. The optical measuring system includes a memory unit that stores a metadata record with calibration parameters that have physical state and change variables that are specific to the calibration apparatus. The calibration apparatus is configured to encrypt a link to the metadata record stored in the memory unit. The optical measuring system includes an optical sensor configured to capture image data containing the at least one optical marker and the code. The optical measuring system includes a control unit configured to evaluate the image data captured by the optical sensor, decrypt the code captured by the optical sensor, access the memory unit via the link, read the metadata record stored therein, and include the read calibration parameters and the at least one optical marker in the evaluation of the image data.

Optical measuring system and method

A measuring apparatus includes first and second optical sensors for recording an image in an image capturing region during first and second image recording time periods, respectively. First and second control signal transducers provide first and second control signals, respectively, that represent the first and second image recording time periods, respectively. A control device controls a measurement illumination arrangement during the first image recording time period based on the first control signal and a first measurement illumination setting. The control device controls the measurement illumination arrangement during the second image recording time period based on the second control signal and a second measurement illumination setting. The second optical sensor is series connected to the first control signal transducer via a timing member. The first control signal is supplied to the timing member so that the second optical sensor is triggered by the first optical sensor via the timing member.

Measuring apparatus and method for controlling the illumination for a measuring apparatus

A method for operating a motion-measuring system of a machine, such as a coordinate-measuring device or a machine tool. An image-recording device arranged on a first part of the machine records at least one recorded image of a second part of the machine. The first part and the second part can be moved in relation to each other. A capturing structure, which is formed by the second part and/or which is arranged on the second part, is captured by the at least one recorded image, and, by using information about an actual appearance of the capturing structure, a speed of the relative motion of the first part and the second part is determined from differences of the at least one recorded image from the actual appearance of the capturing structure.

Motion-measuring system of a machine and method for operating the motion-measuring system

A measuring arrangement is calibrated for determining rotational positions of a rotary device that has a first part and a second part which can be rotated relative to the first part about a rotational axis. Rotational positions of the first part relative to the second part and/or rotational positions of the second part relative to the first part are detected using a plurality of sensors distributed about the rotational axis. A respective measurement signal corresponding to each detected rotational position is generated such that redundant information on the rotational positions of the first part and the second part relative to each other is provided. The redundant information on the rotational position(s) are analyzed such that effects of a translational movement of the first and the second part relative to each other are corrected, the translational movement running transverse to the extension of the rotational axis.

Calibrating and operating rotary devices, in particular for rotating probe heads and/or probes of coordinate measuring machines

A method for calibrating a rotating device attached to a movable part of a coordinate measuring device having a first part secured to the movable part and a second part rotatable relative to the first part about an axis of rotation of the turning device, on which second part a measuring sensor for measuring workpieces can be attached. The rotating device or a body connected to the second part is moved to a local area of a position determining device by a drive system of the coordinate measuring device, which position measuring device is connected to the coordinate measuring device, by means of at least one sensor of the position determining device. A position of the rotating device or of the body connected to the second part is determined relative to the position determining device, and the rotating device is calibrated in accordance with the determined position.

Method and apparatus for calibrating a rotating device attached to a movable part of a coordinate measuring device

A method of producing a workpiece by using additive manufacturing techniques includes obtaining computer-aided design data representing the workpiece in multiple layers. The method includes providing build platforms and layer tools. Each layer tool is moveable relative to a respective build platform and configured to generate or solidify a material layer on the respective build platform. The method includes producing a first defined material layer of the workpiece on a first build platform by controlling a first layer tool according to a first layer definition. The method includes transferring the first defined material layer from the first build platform to a second build platform and measuring the first defined material layer using a first measuring head to measure individual characteristics. The method includes producing further material layers of the workpiece by controlling a second layer tool in accordance with further layer definitions as a function of the measured individual characteristics.

A method for determining a force acting on a rotational device transverse to an axis of rotation of a rotor of the rotational device. The rotational device has a measuring system comprising a measurement body and detection devices for detecting a relative position of the detection device and the measurement body. The method comprises the following steps: producing a force which acts on the rotational device transverse to the axis of rotation of the rotor in a set rotational position, wherein the force causes a deflection of the rotor; determining the deflection of the rotor and/or a position error of the rotor in the set rotational position of the rotor from the relative position of the detection devices and the measurement body; and determining the force in the set rotational position of the rotor using a predetermined relationship between the force and the deflection and/or position error.

Method for determining a torque acting on a rotational device or a force acting on a rotational device

A test body is provided for determining one or more rotation errors of a rotating apparatus with respect to one or more degrees of freedom of movement, in which a real rotating movement of the rotating apparatus differs from an ideal rotating movement. The test body includes a holder which, together with a part of the rotating apparatus, can be rotated about an axis of rotation. The holder can be configured to arrange or fasten the test body with respect to the axis of rotation about which the test body can be rotated for the purpose of determining the rotation error(s). One or more test elements are rigidly connected to the holder or are formed on the holder, and each of the test elements is used to determine a rotation error with respect to one or more of the degrees of freedom of movement.

Test body for determining rotation errors of a rotating apparatus

A method for correcting an angular deviation between a real angle and an ideal angle between motion axes of a coordinate measuring device. The angular deviation depends on position, temperature, and/or loading mass. Values of a position-dependent angular deviation for partial measurement ranges of the coordinate measuring device are determined, and/or a difference between the angular deviation in a partial measurement range and a total measurement range, and the position-dependent angular deviation is corrected by using these values. Values of the temperature-dependent angular deviation for at least two different temperatures are determined and the deviation is corrected based on these. Values of the loading-mass-dependent angular deviation for loading the coordinate measuring device with at least two different loading masses are determined in a range of loading masses and/or information is obtained for correcting the loading-mass-dependent angular deviation in a temperature range and the deviation is corrected by using one of the values or information.

Growing community of inventors

Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany

Dominik Seitz