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 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.

Abstract: A coordinate positioning machine includes a plurality of drive axes, each being a rotary or linear drive axis, for positioning a platform within a working volume of the machine, and a separate linear counterbalance axis for counterbalancing the platform. With this arrangement the counterbalance axis can be substantially invariant to changes in orientation of the drive axes and can be counterbalanced by a simple counterweight. Also, an arrangement wherein the counterbalance axes and force generator are arranged so horizontal movement of the platform causes substantially no net movement of and/or no work to be done on the generator. Also, an arrangement wherein a series of counterbalance axes has at least one rotary counterbalance axis, and the generator is arranged behind or at a predetermined distance from the counterbalance axis. Also, an arrangement having a series of counterbalance axes with at most one rotary counterbalance axis between the generator and ground.

Abstract: This invention concerns a laser solidification apparatus for building objects by layerwise solidification of powder material. The apparatus including a build chamber containing a build platform, a device for depositing layers of powder material on to the build platform, an optical unit for directing a laser beam to selectively solidify areas of each powder layer and a spectrometer for detecting characteristic radiation emitted by plasma formed during solidification of the powder by the laser beam. The invention also relates to a spectrometer for detecting characteristic radiation generated by interaction of the metal with the or a further laser beam. The spectra recorded using the spectrometer may be used for feedback control during the solidification process.

Abstract: A method of generating a spatial map of sensor error data from a coordinate positioning machine including: receiving measurement data collected by measuring or tracking an artefact as it is moved by the machine along at least one machine axis; deriving error data by comparing the received measurement data with expected or ideal values for the measurement data; and generating a spatial error map from the error data, with each cell including an error representation derived from multiple sources of error within the error data.

Abstract: A method of generating a spatial map of sensor data collected during additive manufacturing, in which a plurality of layers of powder are selectively melted with an energy beam to form an object. The method includes receiving sensor data collected during additive manufacturing of an object, the sensor data including sensor values, the sensor values captured for different coordinate locations of the energy beam during the additive manufacturing of the object, and generating cell values for a corresponding cell-based spatial mapping of the sensor data. Each of the cell values is determined from a respective plurality of the sensor values extending over an area/volume comparable to an extent of the melt pool or the energy beam spot.

Abstract: An articulated head for facilitating reorientation of a mounted tool, including: a first member for mounting the head on a positioning apparatus; a second member coupled to the first so its orientation relative thereto about a first axis can be changed between, and locked at predefined orientations, the members can be unlocked by separating the members along the first axis for reorientation of the second member about the first axis; a third member coupled to the second so its orientation relative thereto about a second axis can be changed between, and locked at predefined orientations, the second and third members can be unlocked by separating the members along the second axis for reorientation of the third member about the second axis, the first and second axes are not parallel; and a powered mechanism independently controlling separation of the first and second and the second and third members.