Abstract: A method for measuring a thread includes moving a contactless distance sensor parallel to an axial direction of the thread, recording a measurement signal corresponding to a distance of the contactless distance sensor to a top of the thread, comparing the measurement signal with a reference value lying between a maximum value and a minimum value of the measurement signal, and determining intersection points of the measurement signal with the reference value. Further steps include combining pairs of intersection points, directly following one another, into measurement value tuples, calculating mean values of the measurement value tuples, and calculating a time-angle resolution from the mean values. In an example embodiment, the thread is for a spindle of a ball screw drive.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting and monitoring processes of a production machine includes a process monitoring device designed to capture sensor data relating to the production machine and process data relating to the production machine, and a connection device designed to capture control data relating to the production machine. The apparatus is designed to change a hardware function of the apparatus based on the sensor data, the process data, and the control data. The process monitoring device may be designed to carry out data processing for the sensor data and the process data, or the connection device may be designed to carry out data processing of the control data. The apparatus may include a field-programmable logic gate array device designed to change the hardware function.

Abstract: A method for measuring a thread includes moving a contactless distance sensor parallel to an axial direction of the thread, recording a measurement signal corresponding to a distance of the contactless distance sensor to a top of the thread, comparing the measurement signal with a reference value lying between a maximum value and a minimum value of the measurement signal, and determining intersection points of the measurement signal with the reference value. Further steps include combining pairs of intersection points, directly following one another, into measurement value tuples, calculating mean values of the measurement value tuples, and calculating a time-angle resolution from the mean values. In an example embodiment, the thread is for a spindle of a ball screw drive.