Coordinate measuring machine inspection and adjustment method
First Claim
1. A method for determining the alignment of axes of a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) having a probe movable along the axes, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) installing an artifact on the CMM, the artifact having at least two ends separated by a certain distance;
(b) moving the probe and at least one end of the artifact to a plurality of positions defined by the artifact so that the CMM generates a set of Cartesian coordinates cooresponding to said plurality of positions;
(c) generating a set of distance equations, each distance equation being for the distance between a first position and a second position where said first and second positions are defined by the artifact and wherein at least one of said first and second positions is represented by one of said set of Cartesian coordinates, each distance equation being in terms of the CMM generated coordinates, the certain distance and axis alignment error and scaling error factors to be determined;
(d) determining said error factors by solving said set of distance equations for said error factors; and
(e) adjusting the CMM according to the determined error factors.
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Abstract
A coordinate measuring machine (CMM) inspection and adjustment method includes installing an artifact on the CMM table. The CMM probe is coupled to the artifact and moved to a plurality of positions defined by the artifact so that the CMM generates a plurality of Cartesian coordinate data points. A set of distance equations are generated in terms of the data points, a known dimension of the artifact and unknown CMM axis alignment and scale error factors. The set of equations is solved for the error factors, which are then converted to numbers which represent the magnitude of the needed CMM adjustments. The CMM can then be adjusted to a properly aligned condition according to these numbers.
64 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for determining the alignment of axes of a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) having a probe movable along the axes, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) installing an artifact on the CMM, the artifact having at least two ends separated by a certain distance; (b) moving the probe and at least one end of the artifact to a plurality of positions defined by the artifact so that the CMM generates a set of Cartesian coordinates cooresponding to said plurality of positions; (c) generating a set of distance equations, each distance equation being for the distance between a first position and a second position where said first and second positions are defined by the artifact and wherein at least one of said first and second positions is represented by one of said set of Cartesian coordinates, each distance equation being in terms of the CMM generated coordinates, the certain distance and axis alignment error and scaling error factors to be determined; (d) determining said error factors by solving said set of distance equations for said error factors; and (e) adjusting the CMM according to the determined error factors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification