Abstract:
A method and apparatus (20) measures the tooth thickness of an involute gear (10). The tooth thickness is obtained by determining the angular positions of the gear (10) when a probe (24) is placed at a particular point on the forward and rearward flanks and using the angular positions to calculate the tooth thickness.
Abstract:
An instrument and method for measuring a peripheral contour of a cylindrical-form, helically threaded workpiece (14) wherein the workpiece is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and a measuring stylus (34) contacts the periphery of the workpiece so as to be able to move both parallel to, and perpendicularly of, the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, and as the workpiece is rotated about its longitudinal axis rotary movement of the workpiece and radial movement of the stylus as it follows a peripheral contour of the workpiece are converted to respective electrical signals representative of the angular rotational position of the workpiece and the radial position of the stylus.
Abstract:
A stylus profilometer having a counterbalanced stylus with a motion transducer using a vane (41) moving between parallel, spaced-apart, conductive plates (35 and 37) which damp the motion of the vane by means of trapped air. The vane forms an electrode with the plates so that the combination is a pair of capacitors in a balanced bridge arrangement. Motion of the stylus causes an unbalance of the bridge indicative of the extent of stylus motion. A lever arm (59) associated with the stylus has a tip (57) influenced by a magnetic field which biases the stylus or controls force on a surface to be measured. The entire assembly has a very low moment of inertia to reduce the effects of vibration on the stylus and thereby increase resolution of the device and reduce damage to the substrate.
Abstract:
A method (Figs. 2a, 2c) for automatic probe offset compensation in a machine for measuring coordinates of a workpiece surface (62) by contacting points on the surface (C1, C2 ... Cn) with a probe (60) having a prescribed diameter and sensing and recording the coordinates of the probe. The method can be applied to planar surfaces and circularly curved surfaces. The method includes determining a direction point in space ''D'' just prior to contact with the workpiece surface (22), determining a directional vector Vd between the direction point and the first contact point C1, and determining the angle ''A'' of the directional vector Vd relative to a normal to the surface Vn. When the angle is within a predetermined range of acceptance, the direction point ''D'' is considered valid. In the case of the planar surface, the measured surface S is shifted by the probe offset in a direction opposite the normal vector so that the measured surface and the workpiece surface coincide. The case of a curved surface is also described and follows similar procedures.
Abstract:
An apparatus for checking a camshaft (4), in particular for checking the parameters of the profiles of cams (5-12), comprises means (3, 19, 20, 21) for positioning and axially rotating the shaft, first checking elements (27-39) for determining radial dimensions of cams (5-12) in the course of the rotation, second checking elements (40-47), distinct from the first, for cooperating with a reference portion of the shaft (4) and locating an angular reference position, a rotary transducer (26) for defining said angular position and angular detection positions, and a control unit (63) for receiving and processing signals arriving from the checking devices and from the rotary transducer. For each cam there is memorized (74) and processed (75) a sequence of values (h(i)) pertaining to its profile, there is calculated (76, 77) the value (xBF) of the mutual phase difference with respect to a nominal profile (T), and the actual profile to be checked (H) is inspected with reference to a second nominal profile (T') determined by angularly displacing the nominal profile (T) of an angle equal to the value (xBF) of the calculated phase difference.
Abstract:
A multi-purpose probe module (82), comprising both a touch-trigger type contact probe (84) and a non-contact type probe (86), is used in method and apparatus for monitoring and adjusting the accuracy of a computer-controlled machine for manufacturing precision bevel and hypoid gears. The probe module (82) is mounted on the machine's tool support (12) and is used in conjunction with locating points positioned on the machine's work support (14) to monitor and recalibrate the relative positions of the tool and work supports. The probe module (82) is also used to monitor the flanks of the gear-shaped workpieces (a) for initial stock division, (b)for pre-machining accuracy, (c) for first-piece testing, (d) for in-process accuracy, and (e) for post-machining accuracy. The same probe module (82) is used in combination with a sacrificial test wafer (120) mounted on the work support (14) for adjusting the position of the machine's cup-shaped grinding wheel (28) following each dressing of the latter's working surfaces.
Abstract:
Device for measuring the straightness of a conductive object (12), comprising a plurality of contactless distance sensors (22) aligned in the axis of a straight-edge (20) to be placed on the object. Means (24-1) are provided for transmitting the measurements supplied by each sensor.
Abstract:
Checking apparatus comprising a support (1); sensing means (19; 71) adapted to provide signals depending on the features of the checked parts (3) with reference means (41, 42; 70) adapted to cooperate with the parts; and connection means (30; 66; 93) with resiliently deformable portions (34, 35; 69, 69' ...; 94, 94', ...) for connecting the sensing means to the support and enabling the reference means to properly cooperate with the parts through substantially rotary displacements about parallel geometric axes. In order to diminish the influence of plays and frictions and enable checkings - possibly combined checkings - featuring high accuracy and repeatability, the connection means comprise an element (30; 66; 93) having two legs (31, 33; 67, 68; 93), the element being substantially rigid, apart from a plurality of integral zones having reduced thickness, that define said resiliently deformable portions.
Abstract:
A device for measuring the profile of workpieces having cylindrical surfaces comprises a feeler device (6) and an electronic analysis circuit connected thereto. When carrying out the measurement, there is generated a relative displacement between the workpiece and the feeler device. In order to simultaneously measure a plurality of offset cylindrical surfaces (F1-F4) of the workpiece (5), the feeler device (6) has a correspondent series of measuring feelers (A, B, C and D) independently adjustable with respect to each other in the axial and radial directions, angularly arranged with respect to each other when viewed in the rotational measurement direction. An angular pitch sensor (10, 11) provides angular pitch signals for the channel signals of the measurement feeler and receives a reference angular pitch signal. In the analysis circuit, a phase rotation device for the measuring feeler sets in phase rotation the analysis signal chains provided by the measuring feeler to simulate an alignment of the measuring feeler.
Abstract:
A method for checking dimensions of parts foresees the use of a gauging head (2) with at least a movable feeler (14) that contacts the surface (6) of the part (4) to be checked and a transducer (20) that provides a signal responsive to the position of the feeler (14). The checking, that is performed dynamically in correspondence with one or more checking locations, involves mutual movements between the head (2) and the part (4) and a sliding between the movable feeler (14) and the surface (6). In order to eliminate malfunctions introduced by frictional forces arising during the sliding, the method includes performing two scanning motions in correspondence with each checking location, according to two opposite directions, detecting values of the signal of the transducer (20) for each scanning motion, and averaging the detected values to obtain a value representative of the dimension to be checked, or of its deviation from a nominal value.