Optical Measuring Machine With Contactless Hidden-Surface Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical measuring machines struggle to detect dimension features with coaxial development or hidden surfaces, such as undercuts, keys, slots, and blind holes, limiting their application to specific markets like gears and containers.
Innovation Solution
An optical measuring machine with a holding assembly that rotates the workpiece and combines optical and contactless measuring devices, where the optical assembly generates light radiation transverse to the central axis, and the contactless device detects distances, allowing for the reconstruction of the workpiece's geometry by combining signals from both systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If direct beam illumination with shadow detection is used, then measurement speed is improved, but hidden surfaces and coaxial features cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two different measurement systems: a direct optical shadow detection system for external profile measurement and a contactless measuring device (such as a confocal sensor or optical probe) for detecting hidden surfaces and coaxial features. The control unit integrates data from both systems to create a complete measurement result, allowing simultaneous detection of both visible and hidden geometric features without sacrificing measurement speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring machine is designed with multi-functional capability by incorporating both shadow-based optical detection and contactless probing functions into a single system. This allows the machine to handle diverse measurement tasks including external profiles, hidden surfaces, undercuts, keys, slots, and blind holes, making it universally applicable across different workpiece types and measurement requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple specialized measuring tools are used for different features, then measurement completeness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple separate specialized measuring machines, the patent merges the functionality of shadow-based optical measurement and contactless probing into a single integrated system. The control unit coordinates both measurement devices and combines their data, achieving complete measurement coverage while avoiding the complexity and cost of maintaining multiple separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring machine achieves universal applicability by incorporating multiple measurement capabilities within one device. It can measure external profiles, hidden surfaces, undercuts, keys, slots, and blind holes using a single system, eliminating the need for multiple specialized tools and reducing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If contactless measuring device is added to optical assembly, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contactless measuring device is integrated with the optical assembly in a coordinated manner, where both devices share common positioning and control infrastructure. The control unit manages both the optical shadow detection and contactless probing functions, combining their capabilities while managing the increased complexity through unified control architecture.
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 machine can detect and measure hidden surfaces efficiently, reducing measurement time and cost while increasing versatility, enabling measurements typically requiring specialized tools.
Implementation Method 1
lighting means, configured to generate light radiation
Implementation Method 2
video acquisition means aligned with the lighting means along an optical path of said light radiation
Implementation Method 3
contactless measuring device configured to detect a distance between a sensitive portion thereof and a surface of the workpiece to be measured
Data Source
AI summary
An optical measuring machine includes an optical assembly moveable along an axial direction to acquire an image representing a workpiece, a contactless measuring device connected to the optical assembly to move with it. This contactless measuring device detects a distance between a sensitive portion thereof and a surface of the workpiece. A sensor is configured to detect an angular position around a central axis of a holding assembly, an axial position along the axial direction A control unit activates the optical assembly to acquire a first signal representing an external profile of a measuring zone comprising at first part representing a first tract of the external profile, to activate the contactless measuring device, and to acquire a second signal representing a distance between the sensitive portion and multiple portions of the measuring zone, and to reconstruct the complete geometry of the measuring zone, combining the first and second signals.