Touch probe having nonconductive contact carriers
First Claim
1. In a probe with a stylus for detecting contact with an object, the probe having a switch assembly including a first carrier member transversely connected to the stylus and having a first set of electrically conductive contacts affixed thereto, a second carrier member having a second set of electrically conductive contacts affixed thereto, and whereby electrical characteristics between the two sets of contacts are changed when the stylus contacts an object, wherein the improvement comprises:
- at least one of said carrier members being constructed of a body of electrically nonconductive fiber reinforced plastic thereby simplifying electrical insulation of the contacts affixed thereto while insuring repeatable accurate measurements of the probe.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A probe for detecting contact with an object such as a workpiece includes a movable carrier having a first set of contacts mounted thereto and a fixed carrier having a second set of contacts mounted thereon. The first carrier is operable connected to a probe stylus and moves therewith when the probe stylus contacts an object thereby making or breaking electrical connection between one or more of the contacts. Each of the carrier members is made of a body of high flexural strength nonconductive material, preferably glass fiber reinforced plastic, to thereby simplify electrical insulation of the contacts as well as to insure repeatability of the probe measurements.
24 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a probe with a stylus for detecting contact with an object, the probe having a switch assembly including a first carrier member transversely connected to the stylus and having a first set of electrically conductive contacts affixed thereto, a second carrier member having a second set of electrically conductive contacts affixed thereto, and whereby electrical characteristics between the two sets of contacts are changed when the stylus contacts an object, wherein the improvement comprises:
at least one of said carrier members being constructed of a body of electrically nonconductive fiber reinforced plastic thereby simplifying electrical insulation of the contacts affixed thereto while insuring repeatable accurate measurements of the probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a probe for detecting contact with an object, the improvement comprising:
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a pivot plate constructed of fiber reinforced plastic, a plurality of first ball contacts each having a shank terminating in a ball at one end which is located on one side of the pivot plate, with the shank passing through the pivot plate and having an opposite end located on the other side of the pivot plate, first means for electrically connecting together said opposite shank ends of two of the first contacts; a stylus connected to the pivot plate; a fixed metallic support member; an insert constructed of fiber reinforced plastic supported by the support member, said insert including a plurality of second disc contacts thereon each presenting flat surfaces for opposing the balls on the pivot plate when the stylus is in a rest position, second means for electrically connecting one of the second contacts to the metallic support member; and third means, including said first and second means, for electrically connecting each pair of ball/disc contacts into a series circuit whereby displacement of the stylus from its rest position results in a change in electrical characteristic between at least one ball/disc pair. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification