Sphere Dimension-Measuring Device Using Standard Sphere Reference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sphere size measuring devices face challenges in maintaining measurement accuracy due to temperature variations and elastic deformation, leading to inconsistencies in sphere size measurements during the polishing process.
Innovation Solution
A high-precision sphere size measuring device that uses a standard sphere made of the same material as the object sphere, with a size difference calculation unit and a determination unit to compare the size difference with threshold values, allowing for precise measurement by accounting for elastic deformation and temperature changes, and incorporating a washing mechanism to maintain consistent environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the actual size of the object sphere is measured by exerting a measuring force, then the measurement can be performed, but elastic deformation is generated causing measurement accuracy variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a standard sphere as an intermediary reference object. Instead of directly measuring the object sphere's absolute size (which causes elastic deformation), the system measures both the object sphere and standard sphere under identical conditions and calculates their size difference. This intermediary approach eliminates the harmful effect of elastic deformation on measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from absolute size to size difference. By measuring the difference in size between the object sphere and standard sphere rather than their absolute dimensions, the system avoids the elastic deformation problem while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If the object sphere is measured during the polishing process, then the size can be monitored, but temperature changes cause size variations affecting measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The standard sphere serves as a temperature reference intermediary. Both the object sphere and standard sphere are subjected to the same temperature conditions during measurement, allowing the system to compensate for thermal expansion or contraction by calculating their size difference, thereby eliminating temperature-induced measurement errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The standard sphere is created as a copy/reference of the target object with known properties. By having an identical material composition and target diameter, it replicates the thermal behavior of the object sphere, enabling temperature compensation through differential measurement.
3Measurement precision
If correction calculations are performed to eliminate elastic deformation influence, then measurement accuracy can be improved, but the correction calculations become extremely complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the elastic deformation effect from the measurement system by using the standard sphere as a reference. Instead of calculating corrections for each measurement, the system removes the deformation influence by measuring the size difference between two spheres subjected to identical measuring forces, greatly simplifying the calculation process.
Solution Approach 2:
By creating a standard sphere copy with known target diameter, the system eliminates the need for complex correction calculations. The simple subtraction of the standard sphere's known size from the object sphere's measured size provides accurate results without complicated mathematical corrections.
Data Source
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AI summary
A sphere size measuring unit (15) measures respective diameters of an object sphere in the course of processing and a standard sphere made of the same material as that of the object sphere and furthermore having a target diameter of the object sphere. A size difference calculation unit (161) calculates a size difference between the diameter of the object sphere and the diameter of the standard sphere. A determination unit (162) compares the obtained size difference with a threshold value so as to determine whether or not the diameter of the object sphere reaches the target value.