Renishaw Plc

Reinshaw Plc

Jonathan Paul Fuge

Tim Prestidge

David Collingwood

Victor Gordon Stimpson

Stuart Kersten Campbell

Geoffrey Salt

David R McMurtry

Peter Kenneth Hellier

Jamie John Buckingham

Stephen E Lummes

Benjamin Jason Merrifield

Michael John Wooldridge

John Anthony Styles

David J Rogers

Steve Kirby

David Roberts Mcmurtry

Robin William Cashmore

Mark Acres

Sharon Ann Ashton

Jamie Buckingham

Stephen Edward Lummes

Measurement apparatus is described that comprises a measurement portion for acquiring object measurements and an output portion for outputting measurement data relating to the acquired object measurements. A deactivation portion is provided for inhibiting normal operation of the measurement apparatus such that output of the measurement data is prevented. The deactivation portion, in use, reads apparatus usage information from an apparatus usage module and inhibits normal operation of the measurement apparatus if said apparatus usage information fails to meet one or more predetermined criteria. The apparatus usage module may be provided as an integral part of the measurement apparatus or as a separate activation button. The measurement apparatus may comprise a measurement probe such as a touch trigger measurement probe.

Deactivatable measurement apparatus

A measurement probe, such as a touch trigger measurement probe, is described that comprises a measurement portion for measuring an object and a data transfer portion for receiving data from and/or transmitting data to an associated unit. The measurement device also comprises an authentication module for verifying the authenticity of the associated unit. The authentication module may include a processor for running a one-way hash algorithm. Authenticity may be established using a challenge and response authentication process.

Measurement probe systems for co-ordinate positioning apparatus

A probe for measuring the dimensions of objects on a coordinate positioning machine such as a machine tool has a workpiece-contacting stylus. This is suspended via a sensor mechanism, including strain gauges which provide an output when the stylus contacts a workpiece. A processor processes the strain gauge outputs to produce a trigger signal. It does so in accordance with an algorithm or equation or look-up table which ensures equal sensitivity in all possible directions of approach to the workpiece in the three dimensions X, Y, Z.

Dimensional measurement probe

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

A probe for measuring the dimensions of objects on a coordinate positioning machine such as a machine tool has a workpiece-contacting stylus. This is suspended via a sensor mechanism, including strain gaugeswhich provide an output when the stylus contacts a workpiece. A processorprocesses the strain gauge outputs to produce a trigger signal. It does so in accordance with an algorithm or equation or look-up table which ensures equal sensitivity in all possible directions of approach to the workpiece in the three dimensions X, Y, Z.

A dimensional measurement probe () is mounted in a machine tool (), which reorientates the probe about at least one axis A. Strain gauges () sense when a stylus () of the probe contacts a workpiece (), to produce a trigger signal. False trigger signals may be produced when the probe is reorientated. To overcome this, the reorientation is detected by monitoring changes in the fluctuations of the strain gauge outputs, caused by vibrations of the stylus.

Method of determining measurement probe orientation

A measurement probe, such as a touch trigger probe, is described that comprises a stylus module attachable to a base module. The stylus module comprising a housing and a stylus holder moveably attached to the housing. The base module comprises a measurement portion for generating measurement data indicative of movement of the stylus holder relative to the housing. The stylus module has an inbuilt failure mode and thereby a substantially predetermined operational lifetime. In one embodiment, the inbuilt failure mode is provided by integrating a battery into the stylus module. Providing a mechanical failure mode in which a component of the stylus module catastrophically fails after a certain amount of usage is also described.

Modular measurement probe

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

The invention relates to a device and method for analysis of a tool () e.g. used on a machine tool. A tool detector () includes a light emitter () and a light receiver (). Tool () when progressed into a beam () of light emitted from the emitter () will cause a signal from the receiver to change. Circuitry () includes a digital signal processor which processes the signal from the receiver and produces an output only if the signal conforms to a predetermined condition. Preferably this predetermined condition could be e.g. a characteristic shape of the signal from the receiver, a change in a value derived from a succession of such signals or a change in the minimum or maximum values of a succession of signals from the receiver.

Machine tool analysis device and method

A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a battery low voltage warning for a range of batteries having various initial voltages. When a battery is inserted into a battery holder its initial off-load voltage is measured using a microprocessor. The microprocessor selects a suitable voltage threshold, at which the battery is considered to be discharged, from a predetermined number of voltage thresholds. The initial off-load voltage of the battery is used by the microprocessor as a basis for selecting a suitable threshold. An LED warning or the like is used to indicate that the threshold is reached in use. A measurement probe is shown which uses such a method and apparatus.

Battery life determination

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.

A touch-trigger probe is described having a workpiece-contact sensor () in the form of a kinematic seating () and workpiece contacting stylus (). A processor &#x3bc;P in the form of a reprogammable PIC microcontroller is used to monitor the signal from the sensor (). When the signal is above a threshold for a continual period of time (CT) then the processor issues a trigger signal. The monitoring of the time period (Ct) may be delayed. This delay (Ci) allows triggering initiated by the shock wave produced initially when workpiece contact occurs.

Probe triggering

A probe for position determining apparatus such as a machine tool transmits optical measurement signals to a receiver module. The probe is battery powered and the battery powers light emitting diodes which transmit the optical measurement signals. The optical measurement signals comprise serially transmitted codewords which are generated by a universal synchronous/asynchronous receiver transmitter (USART). The output of the USART is combined with a pulse width modulator which has an output having the same form as the output of the USART but with reduced duration of each pulse, thus enhancing the life of the battery powering the light emitting diodes. The pulse width modulator may also be used to set the timing of the USART.

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Bristol, United Kingdom

Jonathan Paul Fuge