Multi-axis Machine Tool Probe Orientation for Complex Surface Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine tool systems for measuring complex surface shapes, particularly those with small radii of curvature and steep inclination angles, face challenges in accuracy due to the limitations of touch probe devices, which struggle with continuous scanning and calibration, leading to reduced measurement precision and increased stress on the measuring head.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool system incorporating simultaneous multi-axis measurement with both linear and rotation axes, where the measuring head is controlled to maintain contact with the surface while orienting its central axis perpendicular to the surface, allowing for precise shape measurement and minimizing shape errors through optimized contact points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a touch probe moves linearly to measure surface shape, then the measurement process is simple, but it cannot measure surfaces with small radius of curvature
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring head is equipped with a rotating mechanism that allows the probe to dynamically adjust its orientation angle relative to the surface normal. This enables the measurement system to adapt to surfaces with varying curvature radii by changing the probe's angular position, thereby measuring surfaces with small radius of curvature that cannot be measured by linear movement alone
2Area of stationary object
If position measurement is performed at many discrete points, then measurement coverage is improved, but continuous scanning capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring head continuously scans the surface while maintaining contact through combined linear movement and rotational adjustment. The probe rotates continuously to follow the surface normal direction while moving linearly across the surface, achieving both continuous scanning and comprehensive measurement coverage without discrete point-by-point measurement
3Measurement precision
If the measuring head contacts the surface at multiple points, then measurement accuracy may improve, but stress on the measuring head increases
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is designed to contact the surface at a single optimal point where the probe axis is perpendicular to the surface tangent. By concentrating the measurement function at one point rather than distributing contact across multiple points, the design achieves sufficient measurement precision while minimizing stress and bending moments on the measuring head structure
4Device complexity
If the probe orientation is fixed regardless of surface inclination, then device structure is simple, but measurement accuracy decreases on steep surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring head incorporates a rotating mechanism that dynamically adjusts the probe orientation to remain perpendicular to the surface tangent at the contact point. This dynamic orientation adjustment ensures that the probe always measures along the surface normal direction, maintaining high measurement precision on surfaces with steep inclination angles while the control system manages the complexity of orientation adjustment
Data Source
AI summary
In a simultaneous multi-axis measuring machine tool system including linear drive axes and rotation axes to measure a surface shape of an object to be measured by using an on-board measuring device having a probe mounted, at one end thereof, with a spherical contactor, a numerical controller controls driving of the linear drive axes and the rotation axes so that a central axis of the probe is always oriented in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the object to be measured and that the spherical contactor of the probe comes in contact with and follows a surface of the object to be measured.