Carl-zeiss-stiftung, Heidenheim/brenz

Werner Leitenberger

Eckhard Enderle

Karl-Hermann Breyer

Klaus Herzog

Helmut Muller

Rainer Ohnheiser

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 invention contemplates use of a suction bell to enhance the loading with which a guided machine part is gravitationally supported on its guide. In application to a machine in which the machine part is movably supported on air bearings, the suction bell applies a preload force of magnitude to optimize the stiffness of air-bearing action and to maintain an air gap of uniform capillary thickness, free of mechanical contact between the machine part and its supporting surface.

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Munich, Georgia

Werner Leitenberger