INTELLIGENT REPEATABLE ARM MOUNTING SYSTEM

• US 20110173828A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Seegers, Herbert G., Macfarlane, Keith G., York, Frederick, Danielson, David M., Bailey, Brent, Briggs, Clark H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,650 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

Exemplary embodiments include a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine including a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing position signals, a measurement device attached to the first end of the articulated arm coordinate measuring machine, an electronic circuit for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device, a base coupled to the second end, an upper mount portion disposed on the base, a lower mount portion fixed to a mounting structure and configured to repeatably connect to the upper mount portion and an electronic identification system configured to send identifier information identifying the lower mount portion to the electronic circuit.

Claims

1. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), comprising:

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

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

an electronic circuit for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device;

a base coupled to the second end;

an upper mount portion disposed on the base;

a lower mount portion fixed to a mounting structure and configured to repeatably connect to the upper mount portion; and

an electronic identification system configured to send identifier information identifying the lower mount portion to the electronic circuit.

2. The AACMM of claim 1, wherein the upper mount portion and the lower mount portion are components of a curvic coupling or a Hirth coupling.

3. The AACMM of claim 1, wherein the electronic identification system includes an RF identification tag.

4. The AACMM of claim 1, wherein the electronic identification system includes a transceiver.

5. A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), comprising:

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

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

an electronic circuit for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device;

a base coupled to the second end;

an upper mount portion disposed on the base; and

a lower mount portion fixed to a mounting structure and configured to repeatably connect to the upper mount portion, wherein the upper mount portion and the lower mount portion are components of a curvic coupling or a Hirth coupling.

6. The AACMM of claim 5, further comprising an electronic identification system configured to send identifier information identifying the lower mount portion to the electronic circuit.

7. The AACMM of claim 6, wherein the electronic identification system includes an RF identification tag.

8. The AACMM of claim 6, wherein the electronic identification system includes a transceiver.

9. A method of operating a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), with steps comprising:

providing a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing position signals, a measurement device attached to the first end of the AACMM, an electronic circuit for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device, a base coupled to the second end, and an upper mount portion disposed on the base;

providing a first lower mount portion fixed to a first mounting structure and configured to repeatably connect to the upper mount portion;

connecting the articulated arm coordinate measuring machine to the first lower mount portion; and

sending to the electronic circuit first identifier data that identifies the first lower mount portion.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first identifier data is sent to the electronic circuit by an electronic identification system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic identification system includes a transceiver.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronic identification system includes an RF identification tag.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first identifier data is sent to the electronic circuit based at least in part on an operator action.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of calculating a first three-dimensional coordinate value based at least in part on the position signals and the provided data corresponding to a position of the measurement device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of associating the first identifier data with the first three-dimensional coordinate value.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second lower mount portion fixed to a second mounting structure and configured to repeatably connect to the upper mount portion;

connecting the articulated arm coordinate measuring machine to the second lower mount portion; and

sending to the electronic circuit second identifier data that identifies the second lower mount portion.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of transforming the first three-dimensional coordinate and the second three-dimensional coordinate into a common frame of reference.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the upper mount portion and the lower mount portion are components of a curvic coupling or a Hirth coupling.