Machine tool probe

• US 7,812,736 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2009
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renishaw PLC
• Original Assignee: Renishaw PLC
• Inventors: Collingwood, David, Fuge, Jonathan Paul, Salt, Geoffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu; Julie
• Application Number:
  US12/318,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20090140873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/047 Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/58 Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/012 Contact-making feeler heads therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37193 Multicoordinate measuring system, machine, cmm

Abstract

A probe has internal circuitry capable of operating in a plurality of different modes, for example a variety of filter modes and turn off modes. A switch on the probe sends an input to a controller which is arranged to set the mode in response to operation of the switch. The switch may be a push button which is operated externally of the probe by means of an actuator in the form of a plunger. The probe has a workpiece-contacting stylus mounted on a seat from which it is deflectable. The stylus and the seat may comprise the switch. An indicator, e.g., an LED, indicates the mode in response to an output from the controller. The controller outputs a plurality of indications of different modes in a sequence and a mode is selected by operating the switch once the desired mode is indicated.

Claims

1. A method of operating a machine tool probe, the machine tool probe having a deflectable stylus and being capable of operating in a plurality of modes of operation, the method comprising:

setting a mode of operation of the machine tool probe by deflecting the stylus of the machine tool probe.

2. The method according claim 1, wherein the machine tool probe includes an indicator, the method further comprising:

flashing the indicator to indicate the mode of operation of the machine tool probe.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting the mode of operation includes setting the mode and a sub-mode of operation of the machine tool probe.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising initially inserting a battery into the machine tool probe.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting the mode of operation of the machine tool probe includes setting a manner in which the circuitry of the machine tool probe is turned off.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting the mode of operation of the machine tool probe includes setting a filtering to be applied to the probe measurement signal.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measurement probe enters a programming loop when the stylus is deflected for more than three consecutive seconds.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting the mode of operation of the machine tool probe includes the measurement probe entering a programming loop that cycles through all the possible modes of operation of the measurement probe whilst the stylus is deflected.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the setting the mode of operation of the machine tool probe includes releasing the stylus while the desired mode is indicated.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of modes include sub-modes and options, wherein the setting the mode of operation of the machine tool probe includes deflecting the stylus for a short time to advance an option and deflecting the stylus for a longer time to advance the mode.

11. A measurement probe for a position determining apparatus, the measurement probe comprising:

a surface sensor having a deflectable surface contacting stylus;

internal circuitry capable of operating in a plurality of different modes;

a switch; and

a controller connected to receive an input from the switch and arranged to set a mode in response to an operation of the switch,

wherein the switch is disposed inside the probe and can be operated from outside the probe without dismantling the probe.

12. The measurement probe according to claim 11, wherein the switch includes a push button switch.

13. The measurement probe according to claim 11, further comprising an actuator that is accessible from outside the probe, wherein the switch is operated by the actuator.

14. The measurement probe according to claim 13, wherein the actuator includes a plunger having an external end that is accessible from outside the measurement probe.

15. The measurement probe according to claim 14, wherein the external end of the plunger lies within a recess and can be actuated using a pointed implement.

16. The measurement probe according to claim 11, wherein the internal circuitry includes a wireless transmission system and the plurality of different modes include a plurality of different wireless transmission modes.

17. The measurement probe according to claim 14, wherein the wireless transmission system includes an optical transmission system.

18. The measurement probe according to claim 11, further comprising a numerical indicator for indicating the mode of operation of the internal circuitry.

19. A measurement probe for a position determining apparatus, the measurement probe comprising:

a surface sensor having a deflectable surface contacting stylus;

internal circuitry capable of operating in a plurality of different modes;

a switch disposed inside the probe;

a controller connected to receive an input from the switch and arranged to set a mode in response to an operation of the switch; and

a numerical indicator for indicating the mode of operation of the internal circuitry.

20. The measurement probe according to claim 19, further comprising:

an actuator accessible from outside the probe, wherein the switch is mounted inside the probe and is operated by the actuator.