Carl-zeiss-stiftung

Carl-zeiss-stiftung, Heidenheim/brenz

Carl Zeiss Gmbh

Carl-zeiss-stittung

Karl-Hermann Breyer

Klaus Herzog

Klaus-Peter Koch

Helmut Heier

Otto Ruck

Franz W Starp

Franz Szenger

Karl Schepperle

Gunter Grupp

Bernd Georgi

Wolfgang Wiedmann

Berndt Kammleiter

Rainer Ohnheiser

Eugen Aubele

Rolf Beck

Martin Wimmer

Peter Ebersbach

Klaus-Dieter Gotz

Werner Leitenberger

Hans-Gerd Pressel

Klaus P Koch

The invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for measuring the edges 13 of a workpiece 5 with an optical probe 4. The probe 4 measures the distance values (a) between the probe 4 and an adjustable scanning point 15. In the method, the scanning point 15 is moved along a loop path (36a, 36b, . . . , 36n) over the edge 13 of the workpiece 5 to be measured in order to obtain more exact values for measured points of the edge at a higher measuring speed. During the method, distance values (a) are measured by the probe 4 and a point P of the edge 13 is determined from the course of the measured values.

Method and apparatus measuring edges on a workpiece

Method of making coordinate measurements on workpieces

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

In the measurement of workpieces on a coordinate measuring machine having a work-contacting probe head of the switching type, the course over time of the contact signal is stored within a time interval which at least spans the procedural time of contact-signal development. After comparison or correlation with a prerecorded sample signal which has also been stored, the exact time of initial contact or the exact scanning coordinates are then subsequently computed.

Method for coordinate measurement of workpieces

A computer-operated coordinate-measurement machine has two length-measurement systems arranged in parallel for measuring the longitudinal displacement of a probe carried by the portal (3-5) of the machine, and these two length-measurement systems (13, 14) may belong to different precision classes. A computer-associated device (16) forms an absolute position-measurement value (Ym) from length-measurement signals of the more precise measurement system (13) and said device forms a dynamic measurement or instantaneous deviation value (Ys-Ym) from the difference between length-measurement signals of the respective systems (13, 14). The computer of the machine calculates the effective instantaneous position (Ym+.DELTA.y) of the probe (9a, b, c) borne by the portal (3-5), using the instantaneous value of the transverse position of the probe on the portal, in conjunction with the absolute measurement value (Ym) and the dynamic measurement value (Ys-Ym).

Method of measuring the effective instantaneous position of a

A plurality of video cameras (7a-d) are mounted on a table which is adapted support a workpiece or other object to be measured, and the mounting of each camera to the table provides for controlled universal orientation of each camera via an articulating head having provision for selective rotation about each of two orthogonally related axes. The table is provided with vibration damping, whereby both the measured object, and the cameras which provide triangulation data for each measurement, can operate from the same rigid base, isolated from external sources of mechanical shock. The video signals of the cameras are fed, along with instantaneous optical-axis orientation data for each camera, to the computer of a coordinate-measuring machine. The computer relies upon stored calibration data and angular-position data sensed about each of the rotary axes of the articulating heads to derive the orientation data; and the computer additionally relies on video-image analysis to calculate the coordinates of each measured point on the object.

Coordinate-measuring machine for non-contact measurement of objects

Pictures of an object to be measured are taken from several different positions or aspects by a video camera which is mounted via a two-axis articulating head to the measurement arm of a coordinate-measuring machine. The pictures taken from the different positions or aspects are stored and are evaluated with respect to the coordinates of characteristic points of interest on the surface of the object by the method of space intersection, known from photogrammetry. And, in this connection, the position-measurement values supplied by the scales of the coordinate-measuring machine and the angle-measurement values supplied by the articulating head are used for a calculated determination of the coordinates for each of the points of interest on the surface of the object.

Method and apparatus for non-contact measurement of object surfaces

A coordinate-measuring machine has a vertical column which is linearly guided in one horizontal direction (x) and on which a measurement arm is guided for vertical displaceability. The linear movement (x) is produced by a carriage in which the column is mounted for rotational displacement about a vertical axis. A workpiece to be measured is mounted to a turntable. The construction provides a coordinate measuring machine having four axes, two linear and two rotational, and the machine is structurally compact in terms of the measurement volume which is achievable.

Coordinate-measuring machine

The measurement volume A of a given coordinate-measuring machine is increased by a device which consists (i) of a support plate (15) which can be displaced on the surface of the machine table (1) into at least two defined positions and (ii) of a device (16a-c, 17a-c) for measuring the position of the support plate in these different positions. The workpiece to be measured is clamped on said support plate (15) and can then be measured, section by section.

The invention is directed to an optoelectronic probing device for a coordinate measuring apparatus. The probe is exchangeable automatically via a probe changing device. The probing device has a temperature sensor which is in thermal contact with the material of the probing device. The connecting terminals of the sensor are applied to contacts on the exchange face of the probing device. In this way, it is possible to immediately determine the position of the optoelectronic components of the probe from the calibration data obtained at other temperatures after each probe exchange.

Probing device for a coordinate measuring apparatus

A work-contacting probe system is selectively operable as a single-stage or as a two-stage system. The system consists of a first central probe head of large diameter and of one or more small or auxiliary probe heads of dimensions which are reduced as compared with the first probe head. The small probe head can be selectively accommodated, in substitution of a rigid probe pin on the probe-chucking receptacle of the central probe head. Upon substitution of the auxiliary probe-head system for a rigid probe pin, associated electronic circuitry automatically responds to the fact of substitution, (1) by substantially increasing spring-preload force on the probe-chucking receptacle of the central probe head, thereby converting the central probe head for collision-detection service, while (2) connecting work-contacting signals from the auxiliary probe-head system for exclusive service of measurement functions.

Work-contacting probe system for a coordinate-measuring instrument

The invention is directed to a probing device for a coordinate measuring apparatus. The probe is exchangeable automatically via a probe changing device. The probing device has a temperature sensor which is in thermal contact with the material of the probing device. The connecting terminals of the sensor are applied to contacts on the exchange face of the probing device. In this way, it is possible to immediately determine the position of the sensing ball of the probe from the calibration data obtained at other temperatures after each probe exchange.

A coordinate-measuring instrument has a purely mechanical device (14) to compensate for the weight of a vertically displaceable spindle (9). The compensation device consists of a helical-coil spring having a working range which is small as compared with its length in relaxed condition, and a belt transmission interposed between the spring and the spindle (9). The belt transmission is preferably developed in the manner of a block and tackle. A first or drive pulley engages and drives the belt for Z-axis positioning of the spindle, and a second or belt-tension pulley applies weight-compensating tension to the belt.

Counterbalanced coordinate-measuring instrument

A probe head for a coordinate-measuring instrument has a torsionally rigid, play-free and friction-free probe-suspension system which defines a three-dimensional coordinate system wherein the work-contact pin of the probe is deflectable in all three directions in space. For each of the three coordinate directions, an incrementally operating displacement-measuring system is provided, and each such system is associated with a zero indicator for recognition of the zero position of the system. Upon initial contact of the probe with the object to be measured, a trigger pulse is produced via a sensor. A subsequent electronic system processes the different signals delivered by the probe head so that optional operation is available either as a switching probe head or as a measuring probe head.

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Heidenheim, Germany

Karl-Hermann Breyer