Multi-Directional Surface Finish Stylus for Angled Surface Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surface finish measurement technologies, such as profilometers and multi-directional CMMs, are limited in their ability to measure surface roughness and waviness on machined parts with different orientations, requiring re-orientation of the measurement device or object, which is time-consuming and costly.
Innovation Solution
A surface finish stylus for multi-directional scanning probes with obliquely oriented contact elements allows measurement of surface finish along directions non-parallel to the stylus shaft, enabling measurement of surfaces with various orientations without re-orientation, using an elongate shaft with contact elements protruding at angles such as 45° or multiple contact elements with different orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional profilometer with a perpendicular contact element is used to measure surface finish, then measurement accuracy for surfaces aligned with the shaft axis is improved, but the device cannot measure surfaces with different orientations without re-orientation, reducing versatility and increasing measurement time
Solution Approach 1:
The contact element is segmented into multiple sensing elements arranged at different orientations around the shaft axis. Each sensing element can contact surfaces at different angles, allowing the single stylus to measure surface finish on surfaces of various orientations without requiring device re-orientation, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The contact element uses an asymmetric configuration with sensing elements positioned at specific non-uniform angles relative to the shaft axis. This asymmetric arrangement enables the stylus to adapt to different surface orientations while maintaining measurement accuracy, overcoming the limitation of traditional symmetric perpendicular contact elements
2Adaptability or versatility
If a dedicated CMM with a rotary joint is used to measure surface finish on differently oriented surfaces, then versatility is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The contact element is designed with multiple sensing elements at different orientations, enabling a single stylus to perform surface finish measurements on surfaces of various orientations. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for complex rotary joints or multiple separate measurement devices, achieving versatility while maintaining simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the orientation-adaptation function from complex mechanical mechanisms (such as rotary joints) and integrates it directly into the contact element structure itself. By embedding multiple sensing orientations within the contact element, the system achieves surface finish measurement capability for different orientations without requiring additional complex apparatus
3Measurement precision
If surfaces of different orientations are measured by re-orienting the probe or object, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but production time increases due to repeated re-orientation operations
Solution Approach 1:
The contact element is divided into multiple sensing elements positioned at different angles, allowing simultaneous or sequential measurement of surfaces with different orientations using a single fixed probe position. This eliminates the need for time-consuming re-orientation operations while maintaining measurement accuracy, thus improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The contact element is pre-configured with sensing elements at various orientations before the measurement process begins. This preliminary arrangement of sensing capabilities allows the probe to immediately measure surfaces of different orientations without requiring intermediate re-orientation steps, thereby maintaining measurement precision while significantly reducing measurement time and improving production efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A surface finish stylus and associated methods for a multi-directional scanning probe the stylus having an elongate stylus shaft having a longitudinal axis and one or more contact elements protruding from the elongate shaft for contacting a surface to be measured. The one or more contact elements are configured to enable measurement of surface finish during motion of the stylus shaft relative to a surface along a measurement direction that is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis. The multi-directional scanning probe may be carried by a coordinate measuring machine or machine tool.