Measuring Arm Mass Damping for Vibration-Stable CMM Probing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Coordinate measuring machines experience vibrations during the measurement of large components, particularly internal features of rotationally symmetrical components like gears, due to the long distance between the measuring arm's drive and the measuring head, leading to inaccurate measurements and increased measuring time.

Innovation Solution

Integration of an auxiliary mass damper into the measuring arm's support structure to dampen vibrations, allowing for precise and rapid data acquisition without increasing weight or reducing measuring speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the measuring arm is extended to measure large components, then the measuring range is improved, but vibration sensitivity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasuring rangeVSAvoidvibration sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An auxiliary mass damper is introduced as an intermediary element between the measuring arm structure and the measuring head. This damper acts as a mediator that absorbs and dissipates vibration energy, preventing vibrations from the extended arm from reaching the measuring head, thus allowing large component measurement without increased vibration sensitivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful vibrations that naturally occur in extended measuring arms into a beneficial damping effect. By strategically placing mass dampers at specific locations on the measuring arm, the vibrational energy is transformed into harmless heat through internal friction, allowing the system to tolerate extended arm lengths without measurement degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the measuring arm is stiffened to reduce vibrations, then vibration damping is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration dampingVSAvoidmeasuring arm weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of changing the structural parameters of the measuring arm (such as increasing cross-section or material density), the invention changes the dynamic parameters by adding tuned mass dampers. These dampers are designed with specific mass, stiffness, and damping characteristics that are optimized to counteract the arm's natural vibrations, achieving vibration control without modifying the arm's fundamental structural parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than uniformly stiffening the entire measuring arm (which would increase overall weight), the invention applies localized damping solutions at critical positions where vibrations most affect measurement accuracy. The mass dampers are strategically placed near the measuring head or at nodes of vibration modes, providing targeted vibration control only where needed, thus minimizing overall weight increase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If the axis speeds are reduced to minimize vibrations, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measuring time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasuring time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The mass dampers are pre-configured and pre-tuned to the specific vibration characteristics of the measuring arm before measurement begins. This preliminary setup ensures that when high-speed measurement is performed, the dampers are already in position and properly tuned to counteract vibrations, eliminating the need for speed reduction or waiting periods for vibrations to subside

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The auxiliary mass damper effectively reduces vibrations near the measuring head, enabling efficient and precise measurement of large components, including internal features of gears, without increasing the measuring arm's weight or slowing down the measurement process.

Implementation Method 1

The support structure of the measuring arm has an auxiliary mass damper for vibration damping

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4459223A1Measuring arm for a coordinate measuring machine and coordinate measuring machine
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 KLINGELNBERG GMBH
  • EP4459223A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4459223A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4459223A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Measuring arm for a coordinate measuring machine, with a support structure (12), wherein the support structure (12) has a fastening section (14) for fastening the measuring arm (10) to a movable slide (104) of the coordinate measuring machine (100), with a measuring head (16) for acquiring measured values ​​on a component to be measured, wherein the measuring head (16) is held on the support structure (12), wherein the support structure (12) has an auxiliary mass damper (18) for vibration damping.