Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik Gmbh

Carl-zeiss-stiftung

Roland Roth

Karl Seitz

Walter Dominicus

Kurt Brenner

Wolfgang Strauss

Heinz Abramowsky

Helmut Muller

Peter Ahnelt

Guenter Grupp

Walter Jenisch

Horst Stacklies

Werner Leitenberger

Thomas Kleine-Besten

Stephanus Büttgenbach

Stephanus B&uuml;ttgenbach

Uwe Brand

Sebastian B&uuml;tefisch

Wolfgang Hoffmann

Carsten Wuerfel

Oliver Jacobs

Sebastian Bütefisch

Mauricio De Campos Porath

Alexander Dollansky

The present invention relates to a coordinate measuring machine with a measuring system for measuring a workpiece, a carrier structure for carrying the measuring system and a base plate for supporting the workpiece. The carrier structure is movably guided in at least one direction on the base plate. The coordinate measuring machine also has a first support system with at least three supports for supporting the base plate, a second support system and a control device for controlling the second support system dependent on a force application to the first support system. The present invention also relates to a method for compensating for large workpiece masses on a coordinate measuring machine.

Coordinate measuring machine and method for compensating for large workpiece masses

A sensor module for a probe of a tactile coordinate measuring machine has a stationary module base which defines a first measurement plane. The sensor module has a support, which is moveable relative to the module base, for holding a stylus. At least one deformable connecting element movably interconnects the support and the module base. The connecting element has at least a first and a second deformable material layer which, perpendicular to the first measurement plane, are arranged offset with respect to each other. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor module is made from two single-layer module parts arranged above and attached to one another.

Sensor module for a probe of a tactile coordinate measuring machine

A probe head for a coordinate measuring machine has a replaceable, miniaturized probe system with a stylus. The stylus is rigid and forms a structural unit together with a membrane-type sensor system that is deformed in a predetermined way when a force acts on the stylus. The structural unit is permanently fixed to a probe holder and can be handled together with the probe holder when the stylus is being replaced.

Probe head for a coordinate measuring machine

A coordinate measuring machine for the metrological determination of a measurement coordinate on a test object comprises a table for mounting the test object. A first and a second bearing support are arranged on the table. A first and a second carriage, each moveable in a longitudinal direction, are mounted on the bearing supports. According to one aspect of the invention, the carriages are each mounted on the bearing supports via at least three, preferably four separate bearing points, with the bearing points defining a plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the table.

Coordinate measuring machine for metrological determination of a coordinate on a test object

A sensor module for a probe head of a tactile coordinate measuring machine has a frame forming a stationary module base, thereby defining a first measurement plane. A moving part is connected to the frame via webs. Each web has a thick-material web portion arranged between two thin-material web portions, if seen in a cross section perpendicularly to the first measurement plane. The thick-material web portion has a material thickness greater than the corresponding material thickness of the thin-material web portions.

Sensor module for a probe head of a tactile coordinated measuring machine

A probe head for a coordinate measuring machine has a stylus resiliently suspended in a housing. A sensor arrangement serves for detecting deflections of the stylus relative to the housing. The sensor arrangement comprises at least one Hall sensor having a magnet and a Hall element arranged in a vicinity to each other. When the stylus is deflected, the magnet is laterally passed by the Hall element in a direction defined from the North Pole to the South Pole of the magnet or vice versa. A Hall voltage of changing polarity can be tapped at the Hall element then. A preferably linear range around the polarity change is processed in order to determine the deflection of the stylus.

A touch probe for a coordinate measuring apparatus is proposed which includes a touch probe chassis adapted to be attached to the coordinate measuring apparatus, a support for the sensing stylus which is mounted on the touch probe chassis so as to be deflectable from a rest position and on which a sensing stylus is mountable for contacting a workpiece , a deflection measuring system for detecting a deflection of the support for the sensing stylus with respect to the touch probe chassis and an inspection optics for inspecting a tip of the sensing stylus . The touch probe is characterized in that at least one of the components support for the sensing stylus and touch probe chassis comprises a transverse support which extends transversely to a direction of extension of the sensing stylus and which is transparent to light in at least a portion thereof and which is disposed in a beam path of the inspection optics

Touch probe with deflection measurement and inspection optics

The invention is directed to a collision protective arrangement for a measuring arm of a coordinate measuring apparatus for measuring a workpiece. The measuring arm has a surface facing toward the workpiece. The collision protective arrangement includes a part for covering and protecting the surface; and, a circuit switchable between a first electrical state wherein no contact is present between the part and the workpiece and a second electrical state indicative of a collision between the workpiece and the part. The surface of the measuring arm and the part conjointly define an interface and the circuit includes a plurality of resiliently-biased contact pins and contacts mounted at the interface to coact to switch the circuit into the second electrical state when the collision takes place.

Collision protective arrangement for the measuring arm of a coordinate

The invention is directed to a probe head of a coordinate measuring apparatus for conducting measurements on a workpiece. The probe head has a first longitudinal axis and has a probe pin mounted on the probe head. The probe pin has a second longitudinal axis defining an angle with the first longitudinal axis. A joint-free, rigidly-configured adjusting device adjusts this angle when the probe pin is not in contact with the workpiece.

Probe head of a coordinate measuring apparatus

The invention is directed to a protective arrangement for a longitudinally extendible machine component such as a measuring arm of a machine such as a coordinate measuring apparatus. The protective arrangement includes a light barrier unit having a response sensitivity and including a light source for directing a light beam parallel to the axis of the machine component as well as first and second detectors for receiving first and second portions of the light beams and for supplying first and second signals indicative of the intensities of the portions of the light beam. The light source and the detectors are mounted on the machine component so that the length of the light beam between the source and the detectors and the respective light intensities received by the detectors change in correspondence to the distances as the machine component is extended or retracted. A structure shades the light beam in response to a contact engagement of the structure with an object or person. A comparator circuit compares the signal of the detectors and remains nonconductive so long as the light intensities uniformly increase or decrease with changes in the above-mentioned distances. The comparator circuit provides an output signal for bringing the machine component to standstill in response to uneven changes in the light intensities received by the detectors relative to each other when the beam becomes shaded. In this way, a control unit of the machine can, for example, initiate an emergency stoppage of the machine component thereby preventing injury to personnel or damage.

Protective arrangement for a longitudinally extendible machine component

The invention is directed to a protective arrangement for a longitudinally extendible machine component such as the measuring arm of a machine such as a coordinate measuring apparatus. The protective arrangement includes a bellows which at least partially surrounds the machine component and has a plurality of structural parts at least one of which is deflectable relative to the longitudinal axis of the machine component in response to a contact of the bellows with an object or person. Each of the structural parts has a cutout formed therein and the parts are disposed in the bellows so as to cause the cutouts to be mutually aligned in the undeflected condition of the bellows. A light barrier directs a light beam through the cutouts which becomes at least partially shaded in response to a deflection of the one structural part. The light barrier generates a signal in response to the shading and this signal is supplied to a protective circuit in the control unit of the machine which can, for example, initiate an emergency stoppage of the machine component thereby preventing damage.

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Waldstetten, Germany

Roland Roth