Abstract: The invention relates to a coordinate measuring machine with a ram and a probe head or a sensor or an articulating head/unit or with an articulating head/unit with a probe head or sensor positioned on the articulating head/unit and/or with an interface in which the probe head or the sensor or an adapter for the articulating head/unit and/or the interface is/are positioned at least partially in the ram.

Abstract: An articulated measuring head for orienting a probe relatively to a measuring apparatus, including Hirth couplings for providing a high-resolution indexing to two orthogonal rotors and an advanced guiding system to ensure a precise rotation control when the Hirth couplings are free and accurate indexing when they are clamped together. The articulated head of the invention has an embedded dynamic controller using high-precision encoders and crash detection by capacitive sensors.

Abstract: Embodiments described in this disclosure include a probe holder for a measuring system comprising a first connector having electric and/or optical signal connections for attaching a measure probe, electric and/or optical conductor for connecting to the measure probe by first connector, a rotary actuator arranged to rotate the first connector relative to a reference system, an electric and/or optical slip ring and an angle encoder. The rotary actuator comprises a rotor capable of continuous rotation and an electric motor, while the angle encoder provides information on an angular position of the rotor. In some embodiments the rotor has a hollow axle supported by two coaxial spaced-apart bearings. The electric motor is located between the bearings, while the electric and/or optical conductor runs inside said hollow axle, and the electric and/or optical slip ring is in the hollow axle and between the bearings.

Abstract: Embodiments described in this disclosure include a probe holder for a measuring system comprising a first connector having electric and/or optical signal connections for attaching a measure probe, electric and/or optical conductor for connecting to the measure probe by first connector, a rotary actuator arranged to rotate the first connector relative to a reference system, an electric and/or optical slip ring and an angle encoder. The rotary actuator comprises a rotor capable of continuous rotation and an electric motor, while the angle encoder provides information on an angular position of the rotor. In some embodiments the rotor has a hollow axle supported by two coaxial spaced-apart bearings. The electric motor is located between the bearings, while the electric and/or optical conductor runs inside said hollow axle, and the electric and/or optical slip ring is in the hollow axle and between the bearings.

Abstract: An articulated measuring head for orienting a probe relatively to a measuring apparatus, including Hirth couplings for providing a high-resolution indexing to two orthogonal rotors and an advanced guiding system to ensure a precise rotation control when the Hirth couplings are free and accurate indexing when they are clamped together.

Abstract: Orientable probe (10) comprising a probe feeler (6) capable of being oriented along a plurality of indexed directions around a rotation center (O), thanks to two mobile elements (4, 5) that can turn: the first around a first axis (B) and relatively to a fixed support (3); the second around a second axis (A) and relatively to the first mobile element. The feeler (6) is fixed in a shifted position relatively to the rotation center (O).

Abstract: Touch probe for a machine for measuring coordinates, including a contact feeler (12), relatively mobile relatively to a fixed organ (1) and held in a defined and repeatable resting position by a spring (21). The probe comprises an electric circuit to detect the displacements of the feeler (12). The resting position is defined by six contact points distributed around the axis of the feeler to obtain a uniform sensitivity to lateral forces.

Abstract: Tool-switching device for a machine for measuring coordinates wherein the tool is fastened on the tool-carrier and held by the action of elements exerting an axial force. The locking force is taken over symmetrically by the elements of a Boys connection, which increases the repeatability of the connection; in one embodiment, two pins or spheres are driven by a sliding bushing provided with two “V”-shaped slits or with two lateral gorges. In the subsequent embodiments, the pins are replaced by spheres, by levers or by a stirrup.

Abstract: Touch probe including a fixed part (250), designed to be fastened onto a measuring machine or a machine tool, and a contact feeler (30) that is mobile and orientable on two independent axes (211, 212) along a multiplicity of directions indexed in space. An actuator (300) comprising antifriction rollers and a ball bearing allows the rotation axes (211) to be unlocked and any orientation to be selected with minimized friction. In locked position, the actuator (300) withdraws under the action of return springs (336) so as not to influence the indexing accuracy.

Abstract: Motorized indexed measuring head for a machine for measuring three-dimensional coordinates. Includes a double-action actuator to pass from a locked state, wherein any rotation of the probe feeler is prohibited, to an unlocked state, wherein the feeler can be oriented along two axes by two servomotors. The locking and unlocking mechanism is independent from the gravitational force and can operate whatever the orientation of the measuring head.

Abstract: Motorized indexed measuring head for a machine for measuring three-dimensional coordinates. Comprises one, two or more re-orientable elements to orient a probe feeler according to a plurality of indexed orientations. The orientable elements are guided in their rotation and sliding movements by undercut bushings and undercut shafts. The arrangement of the undercuts allows an accurate guiding in the rotation movement without impairing the indexing accuracy.

Abstract: Motorized indexed measuring head for a machine for measuring three-dimensional coordinates. The orientable axes are actuated by motors rigidly supported on bearings or ball bearings. The rotation is transmitted to the re-orientable elements by transmission elements having sufficient play so that the indexing accuracy is not impaired.

Abstract: Motorized indexed measuring head for a machine for measuring three-dimensional coordinates. Comprises one, two or more re-orientable elements to orient a probe feeler according to a plurality of indexed orientations. The orientable elements are guided in their rotation and sliding movements by undercut bushings and undercut shafts. The arrangement of the undercuts allows an accurate guiding in the rotation movement without impairing the indexing accuracy.

Abstract: Motorized indexed measuring head for a machine for measuring three-dimensional coordinates. The orientable axes are actuated by motors rigidly supported on bearings or ball bearings. The rotation is transmitted to the re-orientable elements by transmission elements having sufficient play so that the indexing accuracy is not impaired.

Abstract: Motorized indexed measuring head for a machine for measuring three-dimensional coordinates. Includes a double-action actuator to pass from a locked state, wherein any rotation of the probe feeler is prohibited, to an unlocked state, wherein the feeler can be oriented along two axes by two servomotors. The locking and unlocking mechanism is independent from the gravitational force and can operate whatever the orientation of the measuring head.

Abstract: Touch-triggered probe comprising a fixed part, designed to be fastened onto a measuring machine or a machine tool, and a mobile contact feeler that can be oriented on two independent axes along a multiplicity of spatial directions.

Abstract: Orientable probe (10) comprising a probe feeler (6) capable of being oriented along a plurality of indexed directions around a rotation center (O), thanks to two mobile elements (4, 5) that can turn: the first around a first axis (B) and relatively to a fixed support (3); the second around a second axis (A) and relatively to the first mobile element. The feeler (6) is fixed in a shifted position relatively to the rotation center (O).

Abstract: Touch probe including a fixed part (250), designed to be fastened onto a measuring machine or a machine tool, and a contact feeler (30) that is mobile and orientable on two independent axes (211, 212) along a multiplicity of directions indexed in space. An actuator (300) comprising antifriction rollers and a ball bearing allows the rotation axes (211) to be unlocked and any orientation to be selected with minimized friction. In locked position, the actuator (300) withdraws under the action of return springs (336) so as not to influence the indexing accuracy.

Abstract: Touch probe for a machine for measuring coordinates, including a contact feeler (12), relatively mobile relatively to a fixed organ (1) and held in a defined and repeatable resting position by a spring (21). The probe comprises an electric circuit to detect the displacements of the feeler (12). The resting position is defined by six contact points distributed around the axis of the feeler to obtain a uniform sensitivity to lateral forces.

Abstract: Tool-switching device for a machine for measuring coordinates wherein the tool is fastened on the tool-carrier and held by the action of elements exerting an axial force. The locking force is taken over symmetrically by the elements of a Boys connection, which increases the repeatability of the connection; in one embodiment, two pins or spheres are driven by a sliding bushing provided with two “V”-shaped slits or with two lateral gorges. In the subsequent embodiments, the pins are replaced by spheres, by levers or by a stirrup.