Gear Measurement on CMMs Using Shared Axis Position Reference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tactile measuring methods for gears on coordinate measuring machines are time-consuming due to the need for repeated mechanical scanning, while optical methods require pre-positioning and axis acceleration, leading to inefficiencies and wear on the machine.

Innovation Solution

A method using a coordinate measuring machine with both tactile and optical sensors, where the second measurement's evaluation accounts for the axis position from the first measurement, allowing for reduced pre-positioning and acceleration, enabling more efficient and stable data evaluation by ensuring consistent starting points for measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pre-positioning is performed before the second measurement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measurement time increases and machine wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using the axis position information from the first measurement to pre-calculate the evaluation start point for the second measurement. This allows the system to skip the mechanical pre-positioning step while maintaining measurement accuracy, as the evaluation software is already prepared to start at the correct position when data is acquired.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical pre-positioning system with an information-based system. Instead of physically moving the sensor or component to a predetermined position using machine axes, the solution uses software to track and reference the axis position data from the first measurement, eliminating the need for repeated mechanical positioning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If pre-positioning is performed before the second measurement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but machine wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidmachine wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculation of the evaluation start point using axis position information from the first measurement, eliminating the need for repeated mechanical pre-positioning operations that cause wear to the machine axes and components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes mechanical pre-positioning operations with an information-processing approach, using software to reference axis position data and determine evaluation start points, thereby eliminating mechanical wear while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If tactile probing is used for gear measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but measurement time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidmeasurement efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the advantages of both tactile and optical measurement methods by using optical sensors for rapid data acquisition while applying evaluation algorithms that ensure the precision typically associated with tactile methods, achieving both speed and accuracy simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical tactile probing system with an optical measurement system, eliminating the need for physical contact and repeated probe insertion/extraction operations, thereby dramatically reducing measurement time while maintaining precision through advanced evaluation algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4220071A1Method and coordinate measuring machine
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 KLINGELNBERG GMBH
  • EP4220071A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4220071A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4220071A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Method comprising the following steps: providing a toothed component (10) on a coordinate measuring machine (2), wherein the coordinate measuring machine (2) has a first sensor (4) for measuring geometric features of the toothed component (10), a second sensor (6) for measuring geometric features of the toothed component (10), and axes of movement for performing a measuring movement to acquire measured values ​​on the toothed component (10); first measuring a geometric feature of the toothed component (10) using the first sensor (4) and/or the second sensor (6), such as a tooth pitch, a flank line of a tooth flank, a profile line of a tooth flank, or the like, wherein a first relative measuring movement is performed to traverse a first measuring path (12, 14), acquiring one or more first measured values ​​to determine the geometric feature;Second measurement of a geometric feature of the toothed component (10) using the first sensor (4) and/or the second sensor (6), such as a tooth pitch, a flank line of a tooth flank, a profile line of a tooth flank or the like, wherein a second relative measuring movement is performed to traverse a second measuring path, wherein second measured values ​​are acquired to determine the geometric feature; wherein an evaluation of the second measurement is carried out taking into account an axis position known from the first measurement.