Abstract: A method and apparatus for characterizing a central circular aperture of a workpiece, for example a flexible information storage disk. The apparatus utilizes a noncontact sensor system having a rotary stage upon which the workpiece is placed. A reference edge extending approximately to the axis of rotation of the stage serves as a reference point from which a laser beam measures a plurality of radial distances extending from the reference edge to a plurality of points about the disk's central aperture. A computer utilizes these distances along with a known deviation of the reference edge from the center of rotation of the stage to construct a shape comprising a plurality of inscribed triangles. The center of the shape is found by mathematically determining its center of gravity. The center of gravity is then used to locate a reference coordinate system and precise reference circles are drawn around the center of gravity.

Abstract: A digital display measuring apparatus including a movable contact on the body of the measuring apparatus to engage with an object to be measured, an encoder for converting the displacement of the contact into an electrical output signal, a counting circuit for counting the output signal of the encoder, and a digital display for indicating the counted value from the counting circuit. The digital display further includes a measurement indicator unit for indicating the displacement of the contact and a preset indicator unit for indicating a preset value higher than those indicated in the measurement indicator unit. The preset indicator unit includes a presetting device for supplying a reference value to the preset input of the preset indicator unit. With this apparatus even if the object to be measured has a length exceeding the maximum displacement of the contact, the full length of the object may be measured and indicated.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking linear dimensions of mechanical parts comprises a bed, a longitudinal slide and two transverse slides arranged on the longitudinal slide and carrying relevant sensing elements adapted to touch the part to be checked. In order to obtain flexibility and quickness of operation, first and second reference rests for relevant parts are positioned on the bed and the transverse slides carry sensing elements having an arrangement substantially symmetrical with respect to a transverse symmetry plane. The apparatus is particularly suitable for checking parts after a first and, respectively, a second machining operation.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring instrument for measuring a shape or the like of a work to be measured by a relative displacement value between a measuring element (28) and the work (30). The measuring instrument includes displacement detectors (23, 25, 27) for detecting displacement values of the measuring element (28) relative to the work (30) in the directions of X-, Y- and Z-axes and portable detecting units (35, 38) each having a displacement detector, and these detectors are connected to an input circuit (41) of a processing unit (32) in which the data is processed to output the measured value. The detecting units (35, 38) are selectively used depending on portions to be measured of the work.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of measuring by a coordinate measuring instrument and the coordinate measuring instrument, wherein a probe to be brought into abutting contact with a work to be measured is moved in two- or tri-dimensional direction by a robot mechanism provided independently of a main body of measuring instrument. A moving path of the robot mechanism is preset, and, when a command to carry out a predetermined measuring program is given from a data processing unit, the robot mechanism is moved in accordance with the moving path, and a measured result is calculated to seek a dimension of the work, on the basis of measured data given through an abutting contact between the probe and the work.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking the roundness of parts comprises a basement supporting a motorized spindle for rotating the part to be checked about a horizontal axis, a stanchion fixed to the basement, a control lever and a support element rotatably coupled to the stanchion for rotation about relevant horizontal axes, measuring device coupled to the lever and the support element, and processing device. The measuring device comprises a member vertically suspended to the lever and rotatably coupled to the support element, a Vee device fixed to the member and adapted to be arranged upon the part and two measuring heads with movable feelers adapted to contact diametrically opposed points of the part. The processing device is connected to the measuring heads for providing measurements of the out-of-roundness and of the diameter of the part.

Abstract: A gage block case includes a plurality of gage blocks mounted within the case, each gage block having opposed gage surfaces with a nominal dimension therebetween and a known deviation from the nominal dimension. Sensors associated with each gage block sense the removal of each gage block from the case. A signal generator provides a distinct signal corresponding to which gage block is removed from the case. A memory stores the known deviation of each gage block within the case. A control unit responsive to the signal generator addresses and retrieves from the memory the known deviation for each gage block which is removed from the case, combines the known deviation with the deviations of previously removed gage blocks and outputs the total deviation to a display device. In a second embodiment, the control unit selects and indicates which gage blocks are to be removed from the case to form a specified stack height input to the control unit.

Abstract: A thread guage for indirectly determining the pitch diameter and taper of threads on casing and tubing is disclosed. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the thread guage includes a pair of adjustable thread engaging arm assemblies mounted on a bar member. The arm assemblies are selectively locked along the bar member, the distance between the arm assemblies being a fixed position corresponding to a specified thread size. At least two indicators are mounted on one of the arm assemblies providing a value of the measured thread dimensions relative to a standard, which value is used to determine pitch diameter and taper of the thread.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring dimensions, in particular diameters and axial dimensions of parts with rotational symmetry, comprises a support, a system of slides movable with respect to the support, motors for displacing the slides, transducers adapted to provide signals indicative of the positions of the slides and measuring means carried by the system of slides. In order to perform, accurately and quickly, measurements on different types of parts, the system of slides comprises a longitudinal slide and two slides movable simultaneously and symmetrically along the same transversal directions. The measuring means comprise two measuring heads each of which is fixed to a relevant transversal slide and adapted to measure both in longitudinal and transversal directions. The measurements of the parts are obtained by combining the signals of the transducers and those provided by the measuring heads.

Abstract: In a gear probe for testing the shape and orientation of gear flanks, a control and computer unit is used to effect the necessary positioning between the gear flank to be tested and a measuring sensor. First the gear is positioned coarsely; during this step a transmission disc and a linear transmission track are out of engagement with one another. Thereafter, the measuring sensor is advanced into the tooth gap and a fine positioning for a zero balancing of a potentiometer of the measuring sensor is effected by automatically displacing the linear transmission track with respect to the carriage on which it is mounted or by automatically changing the relative angular position between the gear to be tested and the transmission track. All displacements of apparatus components for the coarse and fine positioning as well as for the performance of the measuring process proper are automatically effected by the program-controlled control and computer unit.