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Title: Automatic ball bar for a coordinate measuring machine

Abstract

An automatic ball bar for a coordinate measuring machine determines the accuracy of a coordinate measuring machine having at least one servo drive. The apparatus comprises a first and second gauge ball connected by a telescoping rigid member. The rigid member includes a switch such that inward radial movement of the second gauge ball relative to the first gauge ball causes activation of the switch. The first gauge ball is secured in a first magnetic socket assembly in order to maintain the first gauge ball at a fixed location with respect to the coordinate measuring machine. A second magnetic socket assembly secures the second gauge ball to the arm or probe holder of the coordinate measuring machine. The second gauge ball is then directed by the coordinate measuring machine to move radially inward from a point just beyond the length of the ball bar until the switch is activated. Upon switch activation, the position of the coordinate measuring machine is determined and compared to known ball bar length such that the accuracy of the coordinate measuring machine can be determined.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Naperville, IL
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
871046
Patent Number(s):
5647136
Assignee:
Universities Research Association, Inc. (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01B - MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-76CH03000
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
automatic; ball; bar; coordinate; measuring; machine; determines; accuracy; servo; drive; apparatus; comprises; gauge; connected; telescoping; rigid; switch; inward; radial; movement; relative; causes; activation; secured; magnetic; socket; assembly; maintain; fixed; location; respect; secures; arm; probe; holder; directed; move; radially; length; activated; position; determined; compared; radial movement; ball bar; radially inward; measuring machine; coordinate measuring; apparatus comprises; switch activation; apparatus comprise; move radially; servo drive; automatic ball; /33/73/

Citation Formats

Jostlein, Hans. Automatic ball bar for a coordinate measuring machine. United States: N. p., 1997. Web.
Jostlein, Hans. Automatic ball bar for a coordinate measuring machine. United States.
Jostlein, Hans. Wed . "Automatic ball bar for a coordinate measuring machine". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871046.
@article{osti_871046,
title = {Automatic ball bar for a coordinate measuring machine},
author = {Jostlein, Hans},
abstractNote = {An automatic ball bar for a coordinate measuring machine determines the accuracy of a coordinate measuring machine having at least one servo drive. The apparatus comprises a first and second gauge ball connected by a telescoping rigid member. The rigid member includes a switch such that inward radial movement of the second gauge ball relative to the first gauge ball causes activation of the switch. The first gauge ball is secured in a first magnetic socket assembly in order to maintain the first gauge ball at a fixed location with respect to the coordinate measuring machine. A second magnetic socket assembly secures the second gauge ball to the arm or probe holder of the coordinate measuring machine. The second gauge ball is then directed by the coordinate measuring machine to move radially inward from a point just beyond the length of the ball bar until the switch is activated. Upon switch activation, the position of the coordinate measuring machine is determined and compared to known ball bar length such that the accuracy of the coordinate measuring machine can be determined.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1997},
month = {1}
}