Abstract: An ultrasound inspection probe is described for use with a coordinate positioning apparatus, such as a machine tool. The probe includes a probe body for mounting to a coordinate positioning apparatus and an elongate member extending from the probe body. The elongate member includes an ultrasound transducer assembly and a datum surface at its distal end. A movable joint connects a proximal end of the elongate member to the probe body and this movable joint is configured to permit both lateral and rotational movement of the proximal end of the elongate member relative to the probe body such that the elongate member can rotate about its distal end to allow the datum surface to angularly align with a surface of an object to be inspected. In this manner, the datum surface aligns with the surface of the object being inspected to optimise acoustic coupling.

Abstract: An ultrasound inspection probe for a machine tool that includes a probe body and elongate member that extends from probe body and has datum surface for contacting object to be inspected. Probe also includes an ultrasound transducer and coupling assembly for acoustically coupling ultrasound transducer to object to be inspected. Ultrasound coupling assembly includes carrier shell containing ultrasound coupling element having transducer-contacting face coupled to ultrasound transducer and object-contacting face for acoustically coupling to object to be inspected. Bearing mechanism movably attaches ultrasound transducer and coupling assembly to elongate member allowing movement between extended position wherein object-contacting face of ultrasound coupling element extends beyond datum surface and measurement position wherein object-contacting face of ultrasound coupling element is substantially flush with datum surface.

Abstract: A scanning probe for a coordinate positioning apparatus, such as a machine tool, is described that includes a probe body connected to a stylus holder by a strain-sensing structure. The strain-sensing structure has an inner portion connected to an outer portion by a plurality of bendable members. A proximal end of each bendable member is attached to the inner portion and a distal end of each bendable member being attached to the outer portion. The inner and outer portions are centred on a central axis and the plurality of bendable members include at least one strain-sensing element. The proximal and distal ends of each bendable member are located at different angles about the central axis. Such an arrangement enables both scanning and touch trigger measurements to be acquired.

Abstract: A powder bed fusion additive manufacturing method including exposing layers of a powder bed to an energy beam to selectively melt areas of each layer, at least a proportion of the areas are melted using a pulsed exposure. The method may further include commanding an energy beam source to produce at least one pulse of the pulsed exposure having a pulse duration of less than 200 microseconds. The step of commanding may include specifying a plurality of raised power levels above a base power level for the powder waveform of the at least one pulse.

Abstract: A computer implemented method including receiving first sensor data from a first sensor monitoring an additive manufacturing process, the first sensor data including a plurality of first sensor values; receiving second sensor data from a second sensor monitoring the additive manufacturing process, the second sensor data including a plurality of second sensor values. Each first sensor value and each second sensor value is associated with a corresponding time during the additive manufacturing process at which the sensor value was generated. Analysing the first and second sensor data to identify a first and second anomalous event that occurred in the additive manufacturing process and a corresponding first and second anomalous event time. Identifying whether the first anomalous event is a potential cause of second anomalous event based upon the anomalous event times. Generating an output based upon identification that the first anomalous event is a potential cause of second anomalous event.

Abstract: A manufacturing system includes: a coordinate positioning machine having a structure moveable within a working volume of the machine, a drive arrangement for moving the structure around the working volume, and a positioning arrangement for determining the position of the structure within the working volume with a first accuracy; and a metrology arrangement to which the machine is removably couplable, such that when the machine is coupled to the metrology arrangement, with the structure being moved by the drive arrangement, the metrology arrangement is able to measure the position of the structure with a second accuracy that is higher than the first accuracy.

Abstract: A surface sensing device is mounted on an articulating probe head of a coordinate measuring machine. The device includes an elongate probe holder which is rotatable about an axis. An elongate sensing module includes a surface finish or surface roughness probe with a stylus tip. This is connected to the probe holder via an adjustable knuckle joint. To determine the geometry of the surface sensing device, including the tip normal and drag vector of the stylus tip, the orientations of the probe holder and the sensing module are determined by probing points which are spaced along their lengths, using a separate probe.

Abstract: A powder bed fusion additive manufacturing method including exposing layers of a powder bed to an energy beam to selectively melt at least one area of each layer, wherein the energy beam is progressed along a scan path to melt material of the at least one area using a pulsed exposure. Initial and/or end pulses of the pulsed exposure may have a shorter pulse duration than a pulse duration of a mid-pulse between the initial and end pulses.

Abstract: A method for assessing the profile of a tool using a non-contact tool setting apparatus that includes a transmitter for emitting a light beam and a receiver for receiving the beam. The receiver generates a beam intensity signal describing the intensity of received light. The setting apparatus is mounted to a coordinate positioning apparatus that allows the tool to be moved relative to the setting apparatus. The method includes using the coordinate positioning apparatus to move the tool relative to the setting apparatus along a tool inspection path, the tool inspection path being selected so that the light beam is traced substantially along a periphery of the tool to be inspected. Beam intensity data is collected describing the beam intensity signal that is generated by the receiver as the tool inspection path is traversed and analysis of the collected beam intensity data is used to assess the tool profile.

Abstract: A tool measurement apparatus for a machine tool includes a transmitter portion including a light source for generating a light beam and a receiver portion including a detector for detecting the light beam, the light beam being passed from the light source to the detector along an optical path. At least one of the receiver portion and the transmitter portion includes a protection device including a gas expulsion aperture configured to expel a bleed gas supplied from an external gas source. The optical path also passes through the gas expulsion aperture. The protection device further includes a check valve located in the optical path. The bleed gas is supplied to the gas expulsion aperture through the check valve and the flow of the bleed gas through the check valve causes the check valve to adopt an open configuration defining a passageway through which the light beam can pass.

Abstract: In a workpiece production method a plurality of nominally similar workpieces are produced in a production process on one production machine. The order or time of production of some of the workpieces on the production machine is recorded. Some of the workpieces recorded are measured at two or more inspection stations. Dimensions or points of one workpiece are measured at one of the inspection stations, and corresponding dimensions or points of another of the workpieces are measured at another of the inspection stations. The results of the measurements of corresponding dimensions or points made at the two or more inspection stations are analysed together, taking account of the order or time of production of the workpieces. An output signal is produced based on the analysing of the results together. The output signal indicates performance of the production machine or of one or more of the inspection stations.

Abstract: A method for delivering fluid to the brain of a subject using an intraparenchymal catheter, the method comprising the step of inserting the catheter 5 into the brain using a posterior to anterior approach and methods of treating neurodegenerative disorders using this delivery method, as well as methods for delivering fluid to an elongate structure of the brain using an intraparenchymal catheter, the method comprising the step of inserting a catheter into the brain along an insertion axis that is substantially aligned with a long axis of the elongate structure.

Abstract: A measurement strut for measuring a separation between two relatively moveable support members of a machine (for example, a robot arm). The strut is removably couplable between the two support members and is adapted to become at least partially decoupled from at least one of the support members when a compressive force developed in the strut by relative movement of the support members is greater than a predetermined threshold. By becoming at least partially decoupled from at least one of the support members, at least some of any excess relative movement of the support members towards each other can be absorbed, thereby helping to prevent damage being caused to the strut by attempting to compress the strut beyond its minimum range of travel.

Abstract: A method of determining the time delay between echoes of an ultrasound pulse emitted by an ultrasound inspection device into an object, the method including: with the ultrasound probe in engagement with a front-wall feature of the object such that the ultrasound inspection device's ultrasound axis is arranged at an angle relative to the nominal surface normal of the front-wall feature, taking an ultrasound measurement which includes the ultrasound inspection device emitting an ultrasound pulse and recording echoes thereof; and determining the time delay between echoes of the pulse via a time delay determination process which adjusts the time delay calculation based on the angle of the ultrasound inspection device's ultrasound axis with respect to the nominal surface normal of the front-wall feature.

Abstract: A method for assessing the profile of a tool using a non-contact tool setting apparatus that includes a transmitter for emitting a light beam and a receiver for receiving the beam. The receiver generates a beam intensity signal describing the intensity of received light. The setting apparatus is mounted to a coordinate positioning apparatus that allows the tool to be moved relative to the setting apparatus. The method includes using the coordinate positioning apparatus to move the tool relative to the setting apparatus along a tool inspection path, the tool inspection path being selected so that the light beam is traced substantially along a periphery of the tool to be inspected. Beam intensity data is collected describing the beam intensity signal that is generated by the receiver as the tool inspection path is traversed and analysis of the collected beam intensity data is used to assess the tool profile.

Abstract: A method of determining the time delay between echoes of an ultrasound pulse emitted by an ultrasound inspection device into an object, the method including: with the ultrasound inspection device in engagement with a front-wall feature of an object at a point to be measured, taking an ultrasound measurement, which includes the ultrasound inspection device emitting an ultrasound pulse and recording an ultrasound measurement signal including a front-wall echo and at least one interface echo reflected by an internal or back-wall feature of the object; and determining the time delay between the front-wall echo and the at least one interface echo via autocorrelation of at least a segment of the ultrasound measurement signal which comprises the front-wall echo and the at least one interface echo.

Abstract: A method of operating a machine tool apparatus, including: causing a tool mounted on the machine tool apparatus to work on a workpiece, during the working of the workpiece by the tool, at least one sensor monitoring the tool, machine tool apparatus and/or workpiece, for one or more signals indicative of the condition of the tool; and using the output of the one or more sensors to automatically configure when and/or how the tool and/or workpiece is inspected by at least one inspection device, the output of which is used to determine whether or not to keep using the tool.

Abstract: An encoder apparatus including a reflective scale and a readhead. The readhead includes at least one light emitting element, at least one sensor and at least one optical device, which together with the scale form an optical system in which the optical device forms an image of an illuminated region of the reflective scale onto the sensor. The system's optical path, from the light emitting element to the sensor, passes through the optical device on its way toward and after reflection from the scale. and includes an unreflected optical path between the light emitting element and the optical device and an unreflected optical path between the optical device and the sensor.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus including a support extending in a first direction, and a beam extending in a second direction. The beam movably mounted to the support so as to be movable in the first direction and exerts a load on the support. The support includes a profile which when the beam exerts the load thereon the profile of the support is deformed such that the beam is maintained at a substantially constant orientation for all locations of the beam along the support.

Abstract: A position measurement encoder including a scale and a readhead, the readhead including a sensor for sensing the scale, the sensor including a one-dimensional array of columnar pixels, configured such that the one-dimensional array of columnar pixels is divided into a plurality of rows wherein each columnar pixel has at least one individual sensing section in each row arranged to contribute to the columnar pixel's output. Each row is individually activatable so that which one or more of the individual sensing sections in the columnar pixels contribute to each columnar pixel's output can be selectively chosen and changed on a row-by-row basis.