Abstract: An industrial manufacturing system includes multiple machine tools and one or more measurement probes for mounting on the machine tools. The system includes an industrial communications network that is interfaced to the machine tool controller of each machine tool and a cellular radio network having a plurality of cellular base stations for wireless communication with a radio transceiver of each measurement probe. A cellular locating unit is provided for calculating a cellular location of the radio transceiver of each measurement probe and a measurement control unit uses the calculated cellular location of each measurement probe to determine which machine tool that measurement probe is mounted on. The measurement control unit thus enables the measurement data from each measurement probe to be used with corresponding machine position data from the machine tool on which it is mounted. A method of operation of such an industrial manufacturing system is also described.

Abstract: A frequency hopping radio communications system includes a measurement station having a first clock and an interface station having a second clock. The measurement station transmits measurement information from a measurement event. The measurement information includes timing information relating the measurement event to the first clock. The interface station receives the measurement information and generates a measurement output including timing information relative to the second clock. One of the first and second clocks is designated as a master clock and a periodic clock adjustment of the other is performed to maintain synchronisation with the designated master clock. The timing information of the measurement output generated by the interface station takes into account any of the periodic clock adjustments that are applied between the occurrence of the measurement event and the generation of the measurement output. In this manner, jitter is reduced and metrology performance is improved.

Abstract: A frequency hopping radio communications module for a measurement system, including a measurement probe and an interface for a machine tool. The communications module is configured to transmit and/or receive radio signals using at least ten frequency channels and can operate in at least a metrology mode for communicating measurement data and a standby mode. Operation in the standby mode includes hopping between fewer frequency channels than operation in the metrology mode. In particular, operation in standby mode includes hopping between three of the at least ten frequency channels in accordance with a second hopping pattern, the three frequency channels being from different thirds of the frequency band. This allows faster frequency hopping synchronisation to be achieved and improves battery life.

Abstract: A frequency hopping radio communications module includes a clock and a memory for storing a hopping pattern. The communications module is switchable between first, second, and third modes. The first and second modes respectively transmit and/or receive data using a series of frames having first and second frame times. The first frame time is equal to, or an integer multiple of, the base time interval. The second frame time is an integer multiple of the first frame time. Operation in the third mode includes transmitting and/or receiving data using a series of frames having a third frame time, the third frame time being an integer multiple of the second frame time. Each successive base time interval is associated with a successive frequency channel of the hopping pattern sequence and each frame uses the frequency channel associated with the base time interval that occurs at the start of that frame.

Abstract: A touch trigger probe interface for a machine tool is described that includes a probe communication portion for receiving probe event information from a touch trigger probe. A machine tool communication portion is also provided for outputting probe event information to a numerical controller of the machine tool. The machine tool communication portion outputs the probe event information as digital data packets, for example over a digital data bus. The digital data packets may include a time stamp and/or the touch trigger probe interface may receive timing information from the machine tool. A touch trigger probing system and a machine tool system including the probe interface are also described.

Abstract: A touch trigger probe interface for a machine tool is described that includes a probe communication portion for receiving probe event information from a touch trigger probe. A machine tool communication portion is also provided for outputting probe event information to a numerical controller of the machine tool. The machine tool communication portion outputs the probe event information as digital data packets, for example over a digital data bus. The digital data packets may include a time stamp and/or the touch trigger probe interface may receive timing information from the machine tool. A touch trigger probing system and a machine tool system including the probe interface are also described.

Abstract: A touch trigger probe interface for a machine tool is described that includes a probe communication portion for receiving probe event information from a touch trigger probe. A machine tool communication portion is also provided for outputting probe event information to a numerical controller of the machine tool. The machine tool communication portion outputs the probe event information as digital data packets, for example over a digital data bus. The digital data packets may include a time stamp and/or the touch trigger probe interface may receive timing information from the machine tool. A touch trigger probing system and a machine tool system including the probe interface are also described.

Abstract: A touch trigger probe interface for a machine tool is described that includes a probe communication portion for receiving probe event information from a touch trigger probe. A machine tool communication portion is also provided for outputting probe event information to a numerical controller of the machine tool. The machine tool communication portion outputs the probe event information as digital data packets, for example over a digital data bus. The digital data packets may include a time stamp and/or the touch trigger probe interface may receive timing information from the machine tool. A touch trigger probing system and a machine tool system including the probe interface are also described.