Patents Assigned to Renishaw
-
Patent number: 10816335Abstract: A non-Cartesian coordinate positioning machine is provided that comprises an extendable leg assembly for positioning a component such as a measurement probe within a working volume of the machine, and a constraint member associated with the extendable leg assembly for providing a predetermined part of the extendable leg assembly with substantially a same orientation relative to gravity for a same position of the component within the working volume. In a preferred embodiment, the orientation relative to gravity is maintained substantially constant, so that a plane defined by the predetermined part is substantially aligned with gravity, as the component is moved around the working volume.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts McMurtry, Stephen Mark Angood, Colin Ray Bulled, David James Fook, Marcus James Eales, Christopher Kemp
-
Publication number: 20200324089Abstract: This invention concerns a neurosurgical kit comprising a catheter (1) and a guide tube (2). The catheter (1) comprises a distal section of tubing (11) having a distal end with a port or ports for delivering fluid to a target site within the brain. The distal section of tubing (11) has an outer diameter that is smaller than an internal diameter of the guide tube (2). The catheter (1) and guide tube (2) are arranged such that, when the catheter (1) is inserted into the guide tube (2) to locate the port or ports at the target site, a recess (14) is provided in a distal end section of the guide tube (2) between the guide tube (2) and the distal section of tubing (11) of the catheter (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2020Publication date: October 15, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Stephen Streatfield GILL, Maxwell Roy WOOLLEY, Thomas GILL
-
Publication number: 20200309509Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2018Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: William Ernest LEE, Paul MAXTED
-
Publication number: 20200309500Abstract: A coordinate positioning apparatus having a load bearing structure. The load bearing structure has at least one elongate corner piece providing at least two bearing surfaces, one on each side of the corner, for a carriage moveable along the load bearing structure, and at least one piece of sheet material which extends along the at least one elongate corner piece and provides at least one load bearing facet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2018Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Hugo George DERRICK, Stephen Paul HUNTER, David Andrew LARKHAM, David Roberts MCMURTRY
-
Patent number: 10775159Abstract: A method of inspecting an object including locating an object on a machine vision apparatus, attaching a light panel to the object to backlight a region of the object, obtaining an image of the region when backlit by the light panel and identifying a geometric property of the object from the image.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Calum Conner McLean, Timothy Charles Featherstone, Richard George Dewar
-
Patent number: 10768026Abstract: An optical element for generating diffraction orders for an encoder apparatus, in which the optical element includes an array of diffraction features arranged such that the spacing between the centres of adjacent diffraction features varies irregularly from one pair of adjacent features to the next.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventor: Jason Kempton Slack
-
Publication number: 20200276669Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2018Publication date: September 3, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: John DARDIS, Kiera Megan JONES, Ceri BROWN, Nicholas Henry Hannaford JONES
-
Patent number: 10751513Abstract: A neurosurgical kit includes a catheter and a guide tub. The catheter includes a distal section of tubing having a distal end with a port or ports for delivering fluid to a target site within the brain. The distal section of tubing has an outer diameter that is smaller than an internal diameter of the guide tube. The catheter and guide tube are arranged such that, when the catheter is inserted into the guide tube to locate the port or ports at the target site, a recess is provided in a distal end section of the guide tube between the guide tube and the distal section of tubing of the catheter.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2013Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Steven Streatfield Gill, Maxwell Roy Woolley, Thomas Gill
-
Patent number: 10751520Abstract: Apparatus for delivering therapeutic agents to the central nervous system of a subject is described. The apparatus includes at least one intracranial catheter and a percutaneous access device. The percutaneous access device includes a body having at least one extracorporeal surface and at least one subcutaneous surface, the body defining at least one port for connection to an implanted intracranial catheter. The port is accessible from the extracorporeal surface of the device, but is provided with a seal such as a rubber bung between the lumen of the port and the extracorporeal surface. The percutaneous access device may have more than two ports and/or a flange. A method of implanting the percutaneous access device is also described.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2014Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: RENISHAW (IRELAND) LIMITEDInventors: Steven Streatfield Gill, Paul David Fielder
-
Publication number: 20200262055Abstract: A coordinate positioning machine that includes: a structure moveable within a working volume of the machine, a hexapod metrology arrangement for measuring the position of the structure within the working volume, and a non-hexapod drive arrangement for moving the structure around the working volume. Also, a coordinate positioning machine including a structure moveable within a working volume of the machine, a drive arrangement for moving the structure around the working volume in fewer than six degrees of freedom, and a metrology arrangement for measuring the position of the structure within the working volume in more degrees of freedom than the drive arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2018Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventor: Stephen Mark ANGOOD
-
Publication number: 20200262152Abstract: A laser solidification apparatus for building objects by layerwise solidification of material. The laser solidification apparatus includes a build platform for supporting the object and a material bed, an optical module including a movable guiding element for directing the laser beam to solidify material of the material bed, and a detector module including a sensor for detecting radiation emitted from the material bed and transmitted to the sensor by the movable guiding element of the optical module. The detector module is removably mounted to the optical module.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2018Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: John DARDIS, James Stephen GARRARD, Callum HEALEY
-
Patent number: 10744598Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus and corresponding method for building an object by layerwise consolidation of material wherein the apparatus includes a build enclosure containing a build support for supporting the object during the build, a material source for providing material to selected locations for consolidation, a radiation device for generating and directing radiation to consolidate the material at the selected locations and an acoustic sensing system. The acoustic sensing system may be arranged to detect acoustic signals generated in the build enclosure by consolidation of the material with the radiation. The acoustic sensing system may be a passive acoustic sensing system arranged to detect acoustic signals generated in the build enclosure that are indicative of at least one condition of the building process and/or the object.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventor: Liam David Hall
-
Publication number: 20200238468Abstract: A method for tool measurement using a non-contact tool setting apparatus mounted to a machine tool, which includes a transmitter for emitting a light beam having a beam width and a receiver for receiving the light beam. The receiver generates a beam intensity signal describing the intensity of received light. The method is for measuring a tool having a nominal tool diameter less than the beam width so fully inserting the tool feature into the light beam would only partially occlude the beam. The method includes moving the tool through the beam thereby causing a change in the intensity signal and generating a trigger signal when the intensity signal crosses a trigger threshold. The tool size is derived using the trigger signal generated. Also, a step of applying a tool length correction that accounts for the nominal tool diameter of the tool being less than the beam width.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2018Publication date: July 30, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Benjamin Jason MERRIFIELD, Edward Benjamin EGGLESTONE, Alan James HOLLOWAY
-
Publication number: 20200233392Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2018Publication date: July 23, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Kevyn Barry JONAS, Stephen WISHER-DAVIES
-
Publication number: 20200230944Abstract: A method of selecting a scanning sequence of a laser beam in a selective laser solidification process, in which one or more objects are formed layer-by-layer by repeatedly depositing a layer of powder on a powder bed and scanning the laser beam over the deposited powder to selectively solidify at least part of the powder layers, includes determining an order in which areas should be scanned by: projecting a debris fallout zone that would be created when solidifying each area based on a gas flow direction of a gas flow passed over the powder bed; determining whether one or more other areas to be solidified fall within the debris fallout zone; and selecting to solidify the one or more other areas that fall within the debris fallout zone before solidifying the area from which the debris fallout zone has been projected.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventor: Ben Ian FERRAR
-
Publication number: 20200233377Abstract: A method and system for forming a holographic structure in a material. The holographic structure is configured to project a selected target image in the far field under illumination of the holographic structure by a laser. The method calculates a modified design for the holographic structure that encodes a unique identifier within the holographic structure for projecting the target image. The method modifies the material by mapping features corresponding to the modified design into the material so as to form the holographic structure. A basic check of the authenticity of the material is performed by checking whether a projected replica of the target image is as expected. A more detailed check of the authenticity of the material is performed by directly inspecting the features in the holographic structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2018Publication date: July 23, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Nicholas John WESTON, Duncan Paul HAND, Krystian Lukasz WLODARCZYK
-
Patent number: 10718602Abstract: A coordinate positioning apparatus comprising first and second relatively moveable bodies, at least the first body comprising at least one sheet or plate of material arranged to provide a load-bearing structure comprising a plurality of planar load-bearing members and on which at least one member is mounted to the first body via a mount which is coupled to at least three, non-parallel planar load-bearing members of the first body, such that the planes of said at least three non-parallel planar load-bearing members intersect each other at a common point.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Stephen Mark Angood, Hugo George Derrick, Stephen Paul Hunter
-
Publication number: 20200225018Abstract: A fixturing apparatus is described that can be used with metrology apparatus, such as coordinate measuring machines, flexible gauges and the like. The fixturing apparatus has a base and a plurality of supports extending from the base that are configured to retain an object. At least one of the plurality of supports comprises a floating support having a floating support element that is moveable relative to the base upon contact with an object being loaded into the fixture. A locking mechanism, such as a pneumatic locking mechanism, is provided that can be actuated to immobilise each floating support element relative to the base. The object may have a glass sheet. A corresponding method of fixturing an object is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2018Publication date: July 16, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Thomas Nigel James SILVEY, Ian David STROUD
-
Publication number: 20200215318Abstract: An implantable percutaneous fluid delivery device is described that includes a subcutaneous base portion having one or more ports for supplying fluid to one or more implanted catheter devices and a percutaneous portion including an extracorporeal surface. The one or more ports of the subcutaneous base portion are accessible from the extracorporeal surface of the percutaneous portion. The subcutaneous base portion is at least partially insertable into a complementary recess formed in a bone, the subcutaneous base portion including one or more features for gripping the internal surface of such a complementary recess thereby directly anchoring the subcutaneous base portion to the bone. The device may be used to route fluid to neurosurgical catheters optionally via a router unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW (IRELAND) LIMITEDInventors: Paul David FIELDER, Steven S. GILL, Trefor Owen LEWIS, Andrew Samuel VICK
-
Publication number: 20200198081Abstract: A method assesses the beam profile of a light beam of a non-contact tool setting apparatus, the apparatus including a transmitter for emitting the light beam and a receiver for receiving the light beam. The receiver generates a beam intensity signal describing the intensity of received light. The apparatus is mounted to a machine tool having a spindle that is moveable relative to the non-contact tool setting apparatus. The method includes loading an object having an edge into the spindle of the machine tool and using the machine tool to move the spindle relative to the apparatus so that the edge of the object passes through the light beam. The beam profile of the light beam is then determined using the beam intensity signal generated at a plurality of positions during the step (ii) of moving the edge of the object through the light beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2018Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Alan James HOLLOWAY, Benjamin Jason MERRIFIELD, Edward Benjamin EGGLESTONE
