Gear Measurement Path Alignment on Coordinate Measuring Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tactile measurement methods for gear wheels on coordinate measuring machines are time-consuming due to the need for repeated sensor pre-positioning and acceleration, while optical methods suffer from inefficient acceleration and deceleration processes.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a first and second sensor on a coordinate measuring machine, where the second measurement considers axis positions from the first measurement to optimize the evaluation process, reducing unnecessary pre-positioning and acceleration by using a virtual setting into relation of measured values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a further sensor is pre-positioned on the basis of already known measurement data before the further measurement, then the measurement efficiency is improved, but acceleration and deceleration of the sensor and/or toothed component are required before the actual measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the optimal starting position for the second sensor based on measurement data from the first sensor. This allows the second sensor to begin measurement immediately at the correct position without requiring acceleration and deceleration cycles, thus improving productivity while minimizing time loss.
2Measurement precision
If the measuring probe is threaded into each gap of the gear teeth and brought into contact with the tooth flank, then precise tactile measurement is achieved, but the measuring time is greatly extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges tactile and optical measurement methods into a hybrid approach. The tactile sensor performs precise measurements at critical points, while the optical sensor captures overall geometry and tooth positions. By combining both methods, the system achieves tactile-level precision without the time-consuming sequential probing of every tooth gap.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor performs preliminary scanning to identify tooth positions and geometries before the tactile sensor conducts detailed measurements. This preliminary action allows the tactile sensor to jump directly to relevant measurement points, dramatically reducing measuring time while maintaining precision.
3Productivity
If optical sensors are used for contactless measurement of gear teeth, then measuring time is reduced, but acceleration and deceleration processes become inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the first sensor's measurement data to dynamically adjust the starting position and measurement parameters of the second sensor. This feedback mechanism ensures that the second sensor begins measurement at the optimal position without requiring full acceleration and deceleration cycles, thus maintaining high productivity while minimizing time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes the following steps: providing a toothed component on a coordinate measuring machine, wherein the measuring machine has first and second sensors for measuring geometric features of the toothed component, and movement axes for executing a measuring movement for acquiring measured values on the toothed component; first measuring of a geometric feature of the toothed component using the first and/or second sensor. A first relative measuring movement is executed to travel along a first measuring path, wherein one or more first measured values are acquired to determine the geometric feature. The method also includes the step of second measuring of a geometric feature of the toothed component using the first and/or second sensor, wherein a second relative measuring movement is executed to travel along a second measuring path; wherein an evaluation of the second measurement takes place in consideration of an axis position known from the first measurement.