Abstract: A method of locating an assembly point (P) on a first part (40), at which assembly point the first part is to be joined to a second part (1), the method comprising the steps of: determining an assembly location (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) in respect of the second part; measuring a portion (42a, 42b, 42c) of a surface (43) of the first part, the surface being spaced away from the second part, so as to define the position and orientation of the surface; and, calculating the assembly point on the surface of the first part, where the surface of the first part is intersected by a vector (N) passing between the determined assembly location and the surface of the first part.

Abstract: A method of locating an assembly point (P) on a first part (40), at which assembly point the first part is to be joined to a second part (1), the method comprising the steps of: determining an assembly location (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) in respect of the second part; measuring a portion (42a, 42b, 42c) of a surface (43) of the first part, the surface being spaced away from the second part, so as to define the position and orientation of the surface; and, calculating the assembly point on the surface of the first part, where the surface of the first part is intersected by a vector (N) passing between the determined assembly location and the surface of the first part.

Abstract: A positioning system for use in computer aided manufacturing comprising at least one measurement means (4, 5, 6a, 6b) arranged to generate information relating to the position and orientation of a first part (2; 23), the system further comprising a processor means (5), arranged to receive the generated information, and a first handling means (21) being arranged to manipulate the first part in response to the processor means, characterised in that the at least one measurement means (3, 5, 6a, 6b; 4, 5, 6a, 6b) is further arranged to generate information relating to the position and orientation of a second part (1; 24) separate from the first part, the processor means being further arranged to derive the position and orientation of the first part relative to the measured position and orientation of the second part, and the first handling means being arranged to manipulate the first part into a predetermined position and orientation with respect to the second part in dependence on the derived relative position a

Abstract: This invention relates to a measurement system for use in computer aided manufacture or computer aided inspection comprising a base measurement system (4, 5a, 5b, 7a, 7b) and a sensor means (2), the sensor means being movable independently of the base measurement system and being arranged to determine the distance between the sensor means and a selected point, the base measurement system being arranged to determine the position of the sensor means relative to the base measurement system, the system comprising processor means (4) being arranged to receive information generated by the base measurement system and the sensor means and the processor means being further arranged to derive position information relating to the selected point relative to the base measurement system.

Abstract: A marking out system for use in computer aided manufacture, the system comprising a measurement system (8, 4, 6) and a marking out device (2), the measurement system storing CAD data of a part (12) to be marked out comprising at least one marking out location, the measurement system comprising sensor means (4) and a processing means (6) and being arranged to determine the position and orientation of the part with respect to the measurement system and to establish a co-ordinate frame of reference allowing the position and orientation of the part to be related to the stored CAD data, the measurement system being further arranged to determine the position and orientation of the marking out device relative to the part to enable the marking out device to be positioned in a predetermined position relative to the part such as to allow the part to be marked in a location corresponding to the at least one marking out location.

Abstract: A method of establishing the position of a target on an object (24), he method comprising the steps of: identifying one or more features (26a, 26b, 26c) associated with the object, the features being located at known positions on the object; applying a first target (3) to the object; establishing a datum co-ordinate system for the object based on the determined location of the features associated with the object; and, measuring using optical measuring means (6a, 6b) the position of the first target on the object to relative to the one or more features so as to determine the location of the target on the object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a non-contact distance measuring apparatus, comprising a casing, a distance measuring means located within the casing for measuring the distance between the distance measuring means and an object using electromagnetic radiation, and the casing being substantially transparent to the electromagnetic radiation used by the distance measuring means.