COORDINATE MEASURING MACHINE WITH CARBON FIBER AIR BEARINGS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A coordinate measuring machine comprising:
- a base for supporting an object;
a probe for measuring the object;
a movable assembly configured to move either the base or the probe;
a rail guiding the movable assembly along its length, the rail comprising carbon and having a rail CTE; and
an air bearing member movably coupled with the rail and fixedly coupled with the movable assembly, the air bearing member forming an air bearing with the rail and having a member CTE,the rail CTE being about equal to the member CTE.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coordinate measuring machine has a base for supporting an object, a movable assembly having a probe for measuring the object, and a rail movably guiding the movable assembly along its length. The rail includes carbon fiber and has a rail CTE. The coordinate measuring machine also has an air bearing member circumscribing the rail and fixedly coupled with the movable assembly. The air bearing member has a member CTE, which is about equal to the rail engineered CTE.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A coordinate measuring machine comprising:
-
a base for supporting an object; a probe for measuring the object; a movable assembly configured to move either the base or the probe; a rail guiding the movable assembly along its length, the rail comprising carbon and having a rail CTE; and an air bearing member movably coupled with the rail and fixedly coupled with the movable assembly, the air bearing member forming an air bearing with the rail and having a member CTE, the rail CTE being about equal to the member CTE. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A coordinate measuring machine comprising:
-
a base for supporting an object; a probe for measuring the object; a movable assembly configured to move the base, the probe being substantially stationary; a rail guiding the movable assembly along its length, the rail comprising carbon and having a rail CTE; and an air bearing member movably coupled with the rail and fixedly coupled with the movable assembly, the air bearing member forming an air bearing with the rail and having a member CTE, the rail CTE being about equal to the member CTE. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A coordinate measuring machine comprising:
-
a base for supporting an object; a probe for measuring the object; a movable assembly configured to move no more than one of the base and the probe; a rail guiding the movable assembly along its length, the rail comprising carbon and having a rail CTE; and an air bearing member movably coupled with the rail and fixedly coupled with the movable assembly, the air bearing member forming a thrust air bearing with the rail and having a member CTE, the rail CTE matching the member CTE. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
-
Specification