Coordinate measurement machine with vibration detection

• US 8,220,173 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hexagon Technology Center GmbH (Hexagon AB)
• Original Assignee: Hexagon Metrology AB (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Tait, Hogar
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, G. Bradley
• Application Number:
  US13/331,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20120084988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 210 Days
• Field of Search: 335/03, 335/56, 335/57, 335/58, 335/59, 335/60, 335/61, 337/02, 337/03
• US Class Current: 33/503
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/008 using coordinate measuring machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/16 Amplitude

Abstract

An articulated arm system can include an articulated measuring arm with a plurality of interconnected support arm segments. The arm segments can be moveable about a plurality of axes. A plurality of rotational angle sensors can mount on the arm and be configured to measure rotational position between the support arm segments. Additionally, a vibration detection device can attach to the arm near an end of the arm. The vibration detection device can be operatively connected to the sensors such that the sensors output a rotational position upon detection of a new vibration exceeding a threshold amplitude.

Claims

1. A coordinate measuring machine system comprising:

an coordinate measuring machine comprising a plurality of interconnected support segments moveable relative to each other;

a plurality of sensors mounted on the coordinate measuring machine configured to measure position between the support segments; and

a vibration detection device attached to the coordinate measuring machine near an end of the coordinate measuring machine, the vibration detection device being operatively connected to the sensors such that a position output by the sensors is recorded upon detection of a new vibration.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors continuously output a rotational position.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the position output is recorded on a separate processor operatively connected to the coordinate measuring machine.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a coordinate acquisition member at an end of the coordinate measuring machine.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the vibration detection device is disposed on the coordinate acquisition member.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the coordinate acquisition member comprises a hard probe.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the coordinate acquisition member further comprises a device for detecting position and/or contact distinct from the vibration detection device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is an optical encoder.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the vibration detection device is disposed on the coordinate measuring machine.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the coordinate acquisition member is removable from the coordinate measuring machine.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the vibration detection device is disposed within the coordinate acquisition member.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the vibration detection device is disposed within the hard probe.

13. The system of claim 4, wherein the vibration detection device is rigidly attached to the coordinate acquisition member.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the vibration detection device is an accelerometer.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein the coordinate acquisition member comprises a probe tip and the vibration detection devices is disposed within the probe tip.

16. A method of operating a coordinate measuring machine system comprising:

contacting an item to be measured with a coordinate measuring machine comprising a plurality of interconnected support segments moveable relative to each other;

sensing a new vibration at an end of the coordinate measuring machine upon contact with the item;

generating a triggering signal in response to the new vibration; and

automatically recording a position of the end of the coordinate measuring machine corresponding to the triggering signal.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising continuously measuring a position of the end of the coordinate measuring machine.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the triggering signal indicates contact with the item.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of storing the measured position.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of recording further comprises storing the measured position.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of automatically recording is performed with an electronic encoder.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of determining whether a sensed new vibration indicates contact with the item.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of determining further comprises checking for a threshold amplitude.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of determining further comprises checking for a minimum duration of an acceleration.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of determining further comprises checking for a maximum duration of an acceleration.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of determining further comprises ignoring vibrations during periods of substantially continued high vibrations.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of determining further comprises checking for passage of a cooldown duration.

28. A probe configured for use with a coordinate measurement machine comprising:

a probe tip;

a probe neck connecting the probe tip to a probe body;

a mounting portion configured to mount the probe body to a coordinate measuring machine, the mounting portion comprising a connect device; and

a vibration detection device disposed on at least one of the probe tip, probe neck, and the mounting portion.

29. The probe of claim 28, wherein the vibration detection device is configured to output a trigger signal upon detection of a new vibration exceeding a threshold amplitude.

30. The probe of claim 28, further comprising a device for detecting position and/or contact distinct from the vibration detection device.

31. The probe of claim 28, wherein the probe tip is a hard probe tip.