Movement control mechanism of contact-type vibrating probe

• US 6,457,366 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuki, Kaoru, Hidaka, Kazuhiko, Okamoto, Kiyokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): MOLLER, RICHARD ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/540,051
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 736/32, 736/33, 736/34
• US Class Current: 73/634
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/04 by measuring coordinates of points
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/012 Contact-making feeler heads therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/004 for measuring coordinates of points
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/012 Contact-making feeler heads therefor

Abstract

A movement control mechanism of contact-type vibrating probe is provided, where the contact-type vibrating probe can be used as a probe for profiling measurement and continuous measurement and configuration of a workpiece can be measured with high accuracy. The movement control mechanism for controlling movement of a support body (23) which moves a contact-type vibrating probe (100) having high detection accuracy includes a vibrator for vibrating the stylus in an axial direction, a detector (5) for detecting a vibration of the stylus by the vibrator, second vibrator for vibrating the stylus in a direction approximately parallel to an end surface of the workpiece, and a controller (31) for controlling movement of the support body (23) so that change in state quantity of a detection signal detected by the detector is constant.

Claims

1. A movement control mechanism for controlling movement of a contact-type vibrating probe, the contact-type vibrating probe having a stylus defining an axis therein provided with a contact portion to be in contact with a workpiece at a tip end of the contact portion, a stylus holder for supporting the stylus, a first vibrator for resonating the stylus at frequency f1 in an axial direction, and a detector for detecting a change in vibration of the stylus by the first vibrator, the movement control mechanism comprising:

a support body mechanically connected to the stylus holder to move in threedimensional space at a predetermined velocity vector in accordance with an external command;

a second vibrator for vibrating the stylus relative to the workpiece at frequency f2 in a direction orthogonal with the axial direction of the stylus and also normal to a surface of the workpiece; and

a controller for controlling movement of the support body so that a state of a detection signal detected by the detector in accordance with contact of the contact portion with the end surface of the workpiece remains substantially constant when the contact portion touches the end surface of the workpiece while vibrating the stylus by the second vibrator.

2. The movement control mechanism of the contact-type vibrating probe according to claim 1, wherein the controller moves the support body in a direction orthogonal with a normal line to the surface of the workpiece.

7. The movement control mechanism of a contact-type vibrating probe according to claim 1, further comprising an escape circuit for suspending the movement control by the controller when the change in the state of the detection signal cannot be maintained at a constant level and for moving the support body so that the contact portion is not in contact with the end surface of the workpiece.

8. The movement control mechanism of a contact-type vibrating probe according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the vibrator and the second vibrator include more than one vibration element disposed around the axis of the stylus at a predetermined angle.

9. The movement control mechanism of a contact-type vibrating probe according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined angle is 90 degrees.

10. The movement control mechanism of a contact-type vibrating probe according to claim 1, wherein the first vibrator and the second vibrator include more than two vibration elements disposed around the axis of the stylus at an equal interval.

11. The movement control mechanism of a contact-type vibrating probe according to claim 8, wherein the vibration element is a piezoelectric element.

12. The movement control mechanism of a contact-type vibrating probe according to claim 10, wherein the vibration element is a piezoelectric element.

13. The movement control mechanism of a contact-type vibrating probe according to claim 1, wherein the second vibrator vibrates the stylus holder in any two directions mutually orthogonal with the axis of the stylus.

14. The movement control mechanism of a contact-type vibrating probe according to claim 13, wherein the second vibrator has a first vibration element for vibrating the stylus holder in one direction and a second vibration element extending from the first vibrating element for vibrating the stylus holder in the other direction.

15. The movement control mechanism of a contact-type vibrating probe according to claim 13, wherein the second vibrator vibration elements disposition for vibrating the stylus holder in one direction and another vibrator for vibrating the stylus holder in the other direction.

3. A movement control mechanism for controlling movement of a contact-type vibrating probe, the contact-type vibrating probe having a stylus defining an axis therein provided with a contact portion to be in contact with a workpiece at a tip end of the contact portion, a stylus holder for supporting the stylus, a first vibrator for resonating the stylus frequency f1 in an axial direction, and a detector for detecting a change in vibration of the stylus by the first vibrator, the movement control mechanism comprising:

a support body mechanically connected to the stylus holder to move in three-dimensional space at a predetermined velocity vector in accordance with an external command;

second vibrator for relatively vibrating the stylus relative to the workpiece at a frequency f2 along a surface of the workpiece; and

a controller for controlling movement of the support body or the workpiece so that a state of a detection signal detected by the detector in accordance with contact of the contact portion with the surface of the workpiece remains substantially constant when the contact portion touches the end surface of the workpiece while vibrating the stylus by the second vibrator.

4. The movement control mechanism of a contact-type vibrating probe according to claim 3, wherein the controller controls the movement of the support body or the workpiece so that the state of the detection signal in accordance with the contact of the contact portion with the end surface of the workpiece becomes the smallest when the contact portion is in contact with the surface of the workpiece while vibrating the stylus by the second vibrator.

5. The movement control mechanism of a contact-type vibrating probe according to claim 3, further comprising a vibrating direction controller for controlling vibrating direction by the second vibrator so that, when the contact portion touches the surface of the workpiece and the stylus is vibrated by the second vibrator, so that a minimized state of the detection signal remains substantially constant.

6. The movement control mechanism of a contact-type vibrating probe according to claim 3, wherein the controller relatively moves the support body toward the surface of the workpiece.