SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROL AND CALIBRATION OF A CMM

• US 20110107611A1
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hexagon Technology Center GmbH (Hexagon AB)
• Original Assignee: Hexagon Metrology AB (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Desforges, Laurent, Delemos, Jean-Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,082,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/502
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/02 Hand grip control means handles or pedals for crane control B66C13/56; for measuring the force applied to control members G01L5/22; hand-held casings for switching devices, e.g. joy-sticks H01H9/0214
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/00 Accessories fitted to manipulators, e.g. for monitoring, for viewing; Safety devices combined with or specially adapted for use in connection with manipulators safety-devices in general F16P; protection against radiation in general G21F
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1692 Calibration of manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/04 by measuring coordinates of points
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/008 using coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/008 using coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39019 Calibration by cmm coordinate measuring machine over a certain volume
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20305 Robotic arm

Abstract

A method of operating an articulated arm CMM is provided. Instructions for the CMM can be inputted to the CMM arm by an action chosen from the group consisting of placing the arm in a predefined position and moving the arm in a predefined manner.

Claims

1. A method of operating an articulated arm CMM comprising inputting an instruction to the CMM arm by an action chosen from the group consisting of placing the arm in a predefined position and moving the arm in a predefined manner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inputting is performed without actuating any buttons, levers, dials, or other traditional actuation devices.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

placing the articulated arm into a retracted position; and

the arm entering a sleep mode automatically after the step of placing the articulated arm into a retracted position.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of awakening the articulated arm from a sleep mode by rapidly moving the arm.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of awakening the articulated arm from a sleep mode by moving the arm into an extended position.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of changing the arm'"'"'s data acquisition mode automatically when the arm is moved slowly.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the arm'"'"'s data acquisition mode is changed to a higher frequency or higher accuracy mode upon slow movement of the arm.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

indicating that a desired calibration position has been reached by holding the arm still for an extended period of time; and

confirming that the calibration position with a rapid movement of the arm.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of confirming is performed after the indication that a desired calibration position has been reached is acknowledged by the arm or an auxiliary device in communication with the arm.

10. An articulated arm CMM configured to receive instructions from actions chosen from the group consisting of placing the arm in a predefined position and moving the arm in a predefined manner.

11. A method for calibrating an articulated arm CMM comprising:

indicating a calibration point and an associated arm calibration position to a user;

moving a distal end of an articulated arm to the calibration point; and

moving the articulated arm to the calibration position.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of indicating a calibration point and associated arm calibration position comprises displaying the arm calibration position.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of displaying the current position of the articulated arm during the moving steps.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of displaying a calibration artifact representative of one or more calibration positions.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of highlighting a portion out of alignment from the calibration position.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of indicating that a calibration position has been reached.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of indicating that a calibration position has been reached comprises holding the arm still for an extended period of time.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of indicating that a calibration position has been reached comprises a change in display, sound, or color.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising confirming that a calibration position has been reached by rapidly moving the arm.

20. An articulated arm CMM system comprising an articulated arm CMM and a display in communication with the CMM, the display comprising a display that indicates a calibration point, an associated calibration position, and a current position of the CMM simultaneously and in real-time.

21. An articulated arm CMM system comprising an articulated arm and a display, wherein the display illustrates a current position of the CMM and a desired position of the CMM

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the desired position of the CMM is one of a sequence of positions used for a probe calibration.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the probe is a touch probe.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the probe is a laser scanning probe.