Abstract: A video measurement system for measuring a test object comprising an imaging system comprising an imager having an imaging pupil, the imager arranged for viewing at least a portion of a silhouette of the test object by receiving light transmitted by the test object over a first angular extent; and an illumination system comprising (i) an illumination source; (ii) output having a second angular extent in object space that is larger than the first angular extent received by the imaging pupil; and (iii) a substrate arranged to diffuse light from the illumination source, the substrate having an axial centerline and a light obscuration element, wherein the light obscuration element is at least approximately coaxial to the axial centerline of the substrate, and wherein the pupils of the illumination and imaging systems are in at least approximately conjugate image planes.

Abstract: A probe for an optical measurement system includes a probe body arranged to be adjustably mounted in a measuring machine for optically measuring a test object. A polarizing fiber optically coupled within the probe body transmits a source beam having an instantaneous or sequentially established bandwidth spanning a range of wavelengths to the probe body and also transmits a measurement beam from the probe body toward a detector. An adjustable beam manipulator is provided for angularly redistributing the reference beam along the reference arm.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for scanning surfaces of a three-dimensional object employ a first sensor to acquire first data points and a second sensor to acquire second data points. The first sensor has a relatively lower accuracy and faster data point acquisition rate than the second sensor, and the second data points are assigned a higher weighting than the first data points. A three-dimensional coordinate point cloud is generated based on the both the first and second data points and their respective weighting.

Abstract: A touch probe for sensing the position of a surface, having a housing and a moving assembly supported within the housing and including a flexible reflective element, a spacer element, and a semitransparent element, wherein a reflective surface of the flexible reflective element and a surface of the semitransparent element are separated by the spacer element, and a stylus connected to the flexible reflective element. Movement of the stylus responsive to a force causes the flexible reflective element to flex and change distances between points on the reflective surface and on the surface of the semitransparent element. Coherent light incident upon the semitransparent element and directed towards the reflective surface creates interference fringes dependent upon separation distances between the reflective surface and the surface of the semitransparent element. A detector senses changes in the interference fringes patterns in response to flexing of the flexible element.

Abstract: An alignment system for an imaging sensor of a coordinate measuring machine incorporates a reference surface associated with a stage of the measuring machine but instead of imaging the reference surface as a location marker, the reference surface is incorporated into a combined imaging system together with the imaging sensor for imaging a feature associated with the imaging sensor. The imaged feature can be an internal part of the imaging sensor, such as an internal aperture, or an external feature in a fixed relationship with the imaging sensor, such as a lens hood.

Abstract: A video measurement system includes an imaging system, a reticle projector for projecting an image of a reticle through the imaging system onto the test object, and a camera for capturing images of the test object together with the reticle image projected onto the test object through the imaging system. A selective reflector reflects the reticle image into the camera from a position along the imaging system in advance of the test object. A mode selector is operable in a first mode for directing the reticle image to the test object and from the test object to the camera and is operable in a second mode for directing the reticle image to the selective reflector and from the selective reflector to the camera.

Abstract: An optical measuring system for a measuring machine includes at least two scanning devices for intermittently moving through alternately timed sequences of static measuring positions at which a measuring beam is directed to and from a test object. An optical switch selectively routes the measuring beam through any one of the scanning devices that has settled into one of the static measuring positions.

Abstract: A method of aligning a 3D CAD model to a test object in a machine vision system comprising steps of orienting the 3D CAD model in a model window, placing the test object on a motion stage in an orientation approximately matching the orientation of the 3D model, taking a video image of the test object with the video camera and extracting a peripheral boundary in a datum plane normal to the viewing axis of the video camera, extracting a silhouette boundary of the 3D model in a corresponding datum plane, relatively positioning the silhouette boundary of the 3D model to match the peripheral boundary of the test object using a fitting algorithm, and matching coordinates of points in the 3D model to coordinates of corresponding points of the test object referenced within the corresponding datum plane and along the viewing axis.

Abstract: A recess or “pocket” is formed in at least one leg of a moving bridge assembly of a coordinate measuring machine, and in a particular embodiment in a primary leg of a moving bridge assembly, to permit a quill to move farther in the X direction to an end of a planar base surface of the coordinate measuring machine adjacent the leg without interfering with the leg. The recess formed in the leg of the moving bridge assembly permits coordinate measurements of a part whose width covers the full area of the planar surface of the base, without necessarily adding significant cost or increasing the footprint of the measurement system.

Abstract: An interferometric measuring machine includes an exchangeable lens module system for an optical probe. The probe includes a lens body containing the optical apparatus of an interferometer and a lens module containing an objective lens along an object arm of the interferometer that can be exchanged with other lens modules for varying the measuring characteristics of the probe. The lens modules are adapted to accommodate objective lenses having different focal lengths while maintaining a desired optical path length of the object arm of the interferometer.

Abstract: An articulated sensor head includes three different sensor modules. A first of the sensor modules is carried on an extended shank that is mounted in a pivotable fashion from an articulating wrist. A housing carrying a second and a third of the sensor modules is releasably fastened to the extended shank. The second and third sensor modules are carried by the housing in a fixed angular orientation with respect to an orientation of the first sensor module.

Abstract: An interferometric measuring machine includes an exchangeable lens module system for an optical probe. The probe includes a lens body containing the optical apparatus of an interferometer and a lens module containing an objective lens along an object arm of the interferometer that can be exchanged with other lens modules for varying the measuring characteristics of the probe. The lens modules are adapted to accommodate objective lenses having different focal lengths while maintaining a desired optical path length of the object arm of the interferometer.

Abstract: An articulated sensor head includes three different sensor modules. A first of the sensor modules is carried on an extended shank that is mounted in a pivotable fashion from an articulating wrist. A housing carrying a second and a third of the sensor modules is releasably fastened to the extended shank. The second and third sensor modules are carried by the housing in a fixed angular orientation with respect to an orientation of the first sensor module.

Abstract: A method of focusing a telecentric imaging system (30), particularly as a part of a measuring machine (10) includes measuring an image of a feature (25) of an object (24) through the telecentric imaging system (30) in a telecentric operating mode and measuring an image of the feature (25) of the object (24) through the telecentric imaging system (30) in a non-telecentric operating mode. A value is acquired characterizing a function by which the size of the imaged feature varies in the non-telecentric mode with the relative displacement of the object (24) through the depth of field (D). The measures of the image of the feature (25) of the object (24) in the telecentric and non-telecentric modes are related to each other and to the acquired value as an estimate of a relative displacement of the object (24) from the best focus position.

Abstract: An optical pen for an optical measurement system includes a probe body arranged to be adjustably mounted in a measuring machine for optically measuring a test object. A single mode fiber optically coupled within the pen body transmits a source beam having an instantaneous or sequentially established bandwidth spanning a range of wavelengths to the pen body and also transmits a measurement beam from the pen body toward a detector. A combination and configuration of optics within the pen body provides a more compact and efficient optical pen.

Abstract: A probe for an optical measurement system includes a probe body arranged to be adjustably mounted in a measuring machine for optically measuring a test object. A single mode fiber optically coupled within the probe body transmits a source beam having an instantaneous or sequentially established bandwidth spanning a range of wavelengths to the probe body and also transmits a measurement beam from the probe body toward a detector. An adjustable beam manipulator within the probe body spatially excludes portions of the reference beam over a progression of different size portions from being focused within the acceptance cone of the single mode fiber to more closely balance the intensities of the reflected object beam and the reflected reference beam within the measurement beam.

Abstract: A counterbalance and drive system for a machine slide mechanism includes a counterbalance system having a first flexible connector suspended from a machine mount and interconnecting a slide mechanism and a counterweight and a drive system having a second flexible connector suspended from the machine mount and interconnecting the slide mechanism and the counterweight. The drive system includes both a drive motor operatively engaged along a length of the second flexible connector for vertically displacing the slide mechanism and a compliant connector operating within a limited range of compliance that imparts a regulated amount of tension along at least a portion of the length of the second flexible connector between the engagement of the drive motor and the counterweight.

Abstract: An optical measurement system includes an optical sensor assembly for measuring an object located beneath the optical sensor assembly. A deployment mechanism is pivotally connected relative to the optical sensor assembly that moves a secondary measurement aid, such as a touch sensor, between a deployed position and a retracted position. When in the retracted position, the secondary measurement aid does not inhibit movement of the optical sensor with respect to the object being measured.

Abstract: Measurement routines are established for automating multi-sensor measuring machines. Selections of feature types, sensor types, and closest points on computer models information is processed for distinguishing whether the features intended for measurement lie on a boundary or on a surface of the part to be measured. Interactions through a graphical user interface to a code-generating computer allow for the selections to be made and corresponding measurement instructions to be generated.

Abstract: A profilometer incorporating a partial coherence interferometer directs a beam containing a band of wavelengths along object and reference arms of the interferometer into respective engagements with a test object surface and a reference object surface en route to a spectrometer for measuring a spectrum of the beam. Within the object arm, the test object surface is relatively moved through a range of positions offset from a null position at which optical path lengths of the object and reference arms are equal. Modulation frequencies of the beam spectrum are calculated at a succession of different focus spot positions across the test object surface. Changes in the modulation frequency are interpreted to distinguish between optical path length differences at which the optical path length of the object arm is longer or shorter than the optical path length of the reference arm.