MOUNTING DEVICE FOR A COORDINATE MEASURING MACHINE

• US 20110173823A1
• Filed: 01/14/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Bailey, Brent, Danielson, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,028,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/503
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/007 feeler heads therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/047 Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/012 Contact-making feeler heads therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/401 characterised by control arrangements for measuring, e.g. calibration and initialisation, measuring workpiece for machining purposes G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/406 characterised by monitoring or safety G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24067 Processor stores variables, events and date in eeprom, for external monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37193 Multicoordinate measuring system, machine, cmm
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40233 Portable robot
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40596 Encoder in each joint
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45061 Measuring robot

Abstract

A mounting device for portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine is provided. The mounting device includes a body having an opening therethrough. A lip is disposed on one side of the opening, the lip is sized to engage a flange on a base portion of the coordinate measurement machine. A portion of the opening includes a thread configured to couple with an external mounting fixture. A first arm is coupled to the body and arranged to rotate in a first direction between a first position and a second position.

Claims

1. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring coordinates of an object in space, comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement device attached to the first end;

an electronic circuit which receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device;

a base rotatably coupled to the second end, the base having a flange on one side;

a mounting device including;

a body having a first opening therethrough with a lip disposed on one side, the lip being sized to engage the flange, a portion of the first opening having a thread; and

a first arm rotationally coupled to the body and arranged to rotate in a first direction between a first position and a second position.

2. The AACMM of claim 1 further comprising a second arm rotationally coupled to the body and arranged to rotate in a second direction between a third position and a fourth position.

3. The AACMM of claim 2 further comprising a first fastener coupled to a third end of the first arm and a second fastener coupled to a fourth end of the second arm.

4. The AACMM of claim 3 wherein the first fastener removably couples the third end to the body, and the second fastener removably couples the fourth end to the body.

5. The AACMM of claim 4 wherein the first fastener includes a first detent mechanism and the second fastener includes a second detent mechanism.

6. The AACMM of claim 3 wherein the first arm is rotationally coupled to the body on a fifth end opposite the second end, and the second arm is rotationally coupled to the body on a sixth end opposite the fourth end.

7. The AACMM of claim 6 wherein the first arm includes a second opening and a third opening, and the second arm includes a fourth opening and a fifth opening.

8. The AACMM of claim 2 wherein:

the thread has an axis of rotation;

at least one of the first arm or the second arm is configured to develop torque about the axis of rotation; and

the torque develops a force sufficient to hold the base rigidly fixed to an attachment device.

9. The AACMM of claim 8 wherein the body is operably coupled to the base.

10. The AACMM of claim 8 wherein the body is operably coupled to the attachment device.

11. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring coordinates of an object in space, comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement device attached to the first end;

an electronic circuit which receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device;

a mounting device operably coupled to the second end, the mounting device including;

a body having a first central portion with an opening extending therethrough, the opening having a fastener portion, a first projection extending from a first side of the first central portion, the first projection having a first slot and a second slot; and

a first arm rotationally coupled to the first slot on a third end, the first arm having a fourth end movable between a first position adjacent the first central portion and a second position distal from the first central portion.

12. The AACMM of claim 11 further comprising:

a second arm rotationally coupled to the second slot on a fifth end, the second arm having a sixth end movable between a third position adjacent the first central portion and a fourth position distal from the first central portion.

13. The AACMM of claim 12 further comprising:

a first fastener coupled to the fifth end and a second fastener coupled to the sixth end; and

wherein the body first includes a second projection extending from a second side of the first central portion, the second projection having a first recess disposed to cooperate with the first fastener and a second recess disposed to cooperate with the second fastener.

14. The AACMM of claim 13 wherein the first fastener is a first detent mechanism and the second fastener is a second detent mechanism.

15. The AACMM of claim 12 wherein:

the first central portion includes a first surface having a first curvature and a second surface having a second curvature, the first surface and the second surface being arranged opposite the opening;

the first arm includes a third surface adjacent the first surface, the third surface being substantially in contact with the first surface when the first arm is in the first position; and

the second arm includes a fourth surface adjacent the second surface, the fourth surface being substantially in contact with the second surface when the second arm is in the third position.

16. The AACMM of claim 15 wherein:

the first arm includes a fifth surface opposite the third surface;

the second arm includes a sixth surface opposite fourth surface;

the first projection includes a seventh surface opposite the opening; and

the fifth surface, the sixth surface and the seventh surface are disposed at substantially the same radius.

17. The AACMM of claim 16 wherein:

the first arm includes a second central portion and a third projection disposed within the first slot; and

the second arm includes a third central portion and a fourth projection disposed within the second slot.

18. The AACMM of claim 17 further comprising a lip disposed within the opening adjacent the first side.

19. The AACMM of claim 12 wherein:

the mounting device is coupled to a base, the base being disposed between the mounting device and the second end;

the fastener portion includes a thread having an axis of rotation;

at least one of the first arm or the second arm is configured to develop torque about the axis of rotation;

the torque develops a force sufficient to hold the base rigidly fixed to an attachment device.

20. The AACMM of claim 19 wherein the body is operably coupled to the base.

21. The AACMM of claim 19 wherein the body is operably coupled to the attachment device.

22. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring coordinates of an object in space, comprising:

a manually positionable articulated arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;

a measurement device attached to a first end of the AACMM;

an electronic circuit which receives the position signal from the at least one transducer and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device;

a base rotatably coupled to the second end; and

a mounting device including;

a retainer member coupled to the base, the retainer member having a flange disposed about a circumference;

a body having a first central portion with an opening extending therethrough, at least a portion of the retainer member being disposed within the opening, the opening having a lip disposed to engage the flange; and

a first arm rotationally coupled to the body on a third end, the first arm having a fourth end movable between a first position adjacent the first central portion and a second position distal from the first central portion.

23. The AACMM of claim 22 further comprising a second arm rotationally coupled to the body on a fifth end, the second arm having a sixth end movable between a third position adjacent the first central portion and a fourth position distal from the first central portion.

24. The AACMM of claim 23 wherein the first central portion includes a first projection extending from one side of the first central portion, the first projection having a first slot sized to receive the third end and a second slot sized to receive the fifth end.

25. The AACMM of claim 24 wherein the first central portion includes a second projection extending substantially opposite the first projection, the fourth end being disposed adjacent the second projection in the first position and the sixth end being disposed adjacent the second projection in the third position.

26. The AACMM of claim 25 further comprising:

a first fastener coupled to the fourth end, the first fastener removably coupled to the second projection when in the first position; and

a second fastener coupled to the sixth end, the second fastener removably coupled to the second projection when in the third position.

27. The AACMM of claim 26 wherein the opening includes a threaded portion adjacent the lip.

28. The AACMM of claim 27 wherein:

the first arm includes a second central portion having at least one first recess; and

the second arm includes a third central portion having at least one second recess.

29. The AACMM of claim 23 wherein:

the opening includes a thread having an axis of rotation;

at least one of the first arm or the second arm is configured to develop torque about the axis of rotation.

the torque develops a force sufficient to hold the base rigidly fixed to an attachment device.

30. The AACMM of claim 29 wherein the body is operably coupled to the base.

31. The AACMM of claim 29 wherein the body is operably coupled to the attachment device.