Multi-functional coordinate measurement machines

Abstract

A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) includes a manually positionable arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal, a measurement device attached to a first end of the AACMM, and an electronic circuit which receives the position signals from the transducers and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device. Implementing the portable AACMM includes identifying a source device from which data is received by determining a transmission path through which the data is transmitted, the source device removably attached to the first end of the AACMM, determining a data type of the data based upon identification of the source device, performing an action on the data responsive to the data type, and outputting results of performing the action to a destination device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 61 / 296,555 filed Jan. 20, 2010, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]The present disclosure relates to a coordinate measuring machine, and more particularly to a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine having a connector on a probe end of the coordinate measuring machine that allows accessory devices to be removably connected to the coordinate measuring machine.[0003]Portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machines (AACMMs) have found widespread use in the manufacturing or production of parts where there is a need to rapidly and accurately verify the dimensions of the part during various stages of the manufacturing or production (e.g., machining) of the part. Portable AACMMs represent a vast improvement over known stationary or fixed, cost-intensive and relatively difficult to use measurement in...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]A further embodiment is a computer program product for implementing a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), the computer program product including a computer storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied thereon, which when executed by a computer causes the computer to implement a method. The method includes identifying a source device from which data is received by determining a transmission path through which the data is transmitted. The source device is removably attached to the AACMM. The method also includes determining a data type of the data based upon at least an identification of the source device, performing an action on the data responsive to the data type, and outputting results of performing the action to a destination device.

Problems solved by technology

Portable AACMMs represent a vast improvement over known stationary or fixed, cost-intensive and relatively difficult to use measurement installations, particularly in the amount of time it takes to perform dimensional measurements of relatively complex parts.

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