High speed metrology with numerically controlled machines
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a metrology device configured to measure, for a cycle of movement of an operating tool arm along a programmed path, metrology values for a workpiece associated with a manufacturing machine comprising the operating tool arm;
an encoder configured to convert the metrology values into encoded metrology values comprising a format compatible with the manufacturing machine; and
a computer component configured to record the encoded metrology values in association with coordinate values generated by the manufacturing machine during the cycle of movement, wherein the coordinate values represent respective positions or orientations of the operating tool arm over time for the cycle of movement,wherein the encoder is further configured to generate an index signal that increments periodically at a first frequency, wherein the first frequency is higher than a second frequency at which the coordinate values are generated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatuses and methods are described for integrating an electronic metrology sensor with precision production equipment such as computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines. For example, a laser distance measuring sensor is used. Measurements are taken at a relatively high sample rate and converted into a format compatible with other data generated or accepted by the CNC machine. Measurements from the sensor are synchronized with the position of the arm of the machine such as through the use of offsets. Processing yields a detailed and highly accurate three-dimensional map of a workpiece in the machine. Applicable metrology instruments include other near continuously reading non-destructive characterization instruments such as contact and non-contact dimensional, eddy current, ultra-sound, and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) sensors. Various uses of measurements include: multiple component matching, correction of machine drift, closed loop control of machines, and verification of product tolerances via substantially complete serialized dimensional quality control.
41 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a metrology device configured to measure, for a cycle of movement of an operating tool arm along a programmed path, metrology values for a workpiece associated with a manufacturing machine comprising the operating tool arm; an encoder configured to convert the metrology values into encoded metrology values comprising a format compatible with the manufacturing machine; and a computer component configured to record the encoded metrology values in association with coordinate values generated by the manufacturing machine during the cycle of movement, wherein the coordinate values represent respective positions or orientations of the operating tool arm over time for the cycle of movement, wherein the encoder is further configured to generate an index signal that increments periodically at a first frequency, wherein the first frequency is higher than a second frequency at which the coordinate values are generated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for visualizing a workpiece, comprising:
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a coordinate machine comprising a movable operating component, wherein the coordinate machine is configured to record coordinate values representing at least one of positions or orientations of the movable operating component at a substantially regular interval as the movable operating component traverses a programmed path; a computer component configured to record metrology values measured for a workpiece by a sensor device as the movable operating component traverses the programmed path; and an encoder configured to translate the metrology values to a format compatible with the coordinate machine, wherein the computer component is further configured to synchronize the coordinate values with the metrology values and to interpolate between consecutive coordinate values based on a determined time delay associated with the sensor device to facilitate synchronization of the coordinate values with the metrology values. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A system for collecting metrology data, comprising:
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an electronic measurement device configured to measure a set of metrology values for a workpiece in a production machine; and an encoder configured to perform a filtering action on at least a portion of the set of metrology values based on a determination that consecutive values of the set of metrology values vary in excess of a defined threshold value, wherein the defined threshold value comprises a magnitude value corresponding to a number of incremental pulses capable of being generated by the encoder within a single data measurement cycle of the electronic measuring device.
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20. A system, comprising:
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a metrology device configured to measure, for a cycle of movement of an operating tool arm along a programmed path, metrology values for a workpiece associated with a manufacturing machine comprising the operating tool arm; an encoder configured to convert the metrology values into encoded metrology values comprising a format compatible with the manufacturing machine; and a computer component configured to record the encoded metrology values in association with coordinate values generated by the manufacturing machine during the cycle of movement, wherein the coordinate values represent respective positions or orientations of the operating tool arm over time for the cycle of movement, wherein at least one of the metrology device or the computing component is configured to filter the metrology values according to a filtering criterion. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system, comprising:
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a metrology device configured to measure, for a cycle of movement of an operating tool arm along a programmed path, metrology values for a workpiece associated with a manufacturing machine comprising the operating tool arm; an encoder configured to convert the metrology values into encoded metrology values comprising a format compatible with the manufacturing machine; and a computer component configured to record the encoded metrology values in association with coordinate values generated by the manufacturing machine during the cycle of movement, wherein the coordinate values represent respective positions or orientations of the operating tool arm over time for the cycle of movement, and the computer component is further configured to apply a temporal delay value to the coordinate values to facilitate synchronization of the coordinate values with the encoded metrology values. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system, comprising:
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a metrology device configured to measure, for a cycle of movement of an operating tool arm along a programmed path, metrology values for a workpiece associated with a manufacturing machine comprising the operating tool arm, the metrology device comprising a light-based measuring device; an encoder configured to convert the metrology values into encoded metrology values comprising a format compatible with the manufacturing machine; and a computer component configured to record the encoded metrology values in association with coordinate values generated by the manufacturing machine during the cycle of movement, wherein the coordinate values represent respective positions or orientations of the operating tool arm over time for the cycle of movement, wherein the encoder is further configured to generate an index signal that increments periodically at a first frequency, wherein the first frequency is higher than a second frequency at which the coordinate values are generated. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A system, comprising:
a metrology device configured to measure, for a cycle of movement of an operating tool arm along a programmed path, metrology values for a workpiece associated with a manufacturing machine comprising the operating tool arm, the measuring comprises measuring a distance value as the property value; an encoder configured to convert the metrology values into encoded metrology values comprising a format compatible with the manufacturing machine; and a computer component configured to record the encoded metrology values in association with coordinate values generated by the manufacturing machine during the cycle of movement, wherein the coordinate values represent respective positions or orientations of the operating tool arm over time for the cycle of movement, wherein the encoder is further configured to generate an index signal that increments periodically at a first frequency, and the first frequency is higher than a second frequency at which the coordinate values are generated. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. An apparatus for visualizing a workpiece, comprising:
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a coordinate machine comprising a movable operating component, wherein the coordinate machine is configured to record coordinate values representing at least one of positions or orientations of the movable operating component at a substantially regular interval as the movable operating component traverses a programmed path; a computer component configured to record metrology values measured for a workpiece by a sensor device as the movable operating component traverses the programmed path, the sensor device comprising a distance measuring device configured to measure distance values representing distances between the sensor device and the workpiece; and an encoder configured to translate the metrology values to a format compatible with the coordinate machine, wherein the computer component is further configured to synchronize the coordinate values with the metrology values and to interpolate between consecutive coordinate values based on a determined time delay associated with the sensor device to facilitate synchronization of the coordinate values with the metrology values. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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48. An apparatus for visualizing a workpiece, comprising:
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a coordinate machine comprising a movable operating component, wherein the coordinate machine is configured to record coordinate values representing at least one of positions or orientations of the movable operating component at a substantially regular interval as the movable operating component traverses a programmed path; a computer component configured to record metrology values measured for a workpiece by a sensor device as the movable operating component traverses the programmed path, the sensor device comprising a light-based measuring device; and an encoder configured to translate the metrology values to a format compatible with the coordinate machine, wherein the computer component is further configured to synchronize the coordinate values with the metrology values and to interpolate between consecutive coordinate values based on a determined time delay associated with the sensor device to facilitate synchronization of the coordinate values with the metrology values. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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Specification