3-D touch probes for workpiece alignment and measurement

Citation

(2000), "3-D touch probes for workpiece alignment and measurement", Sensor Review, Vol. 20 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2000.08720dad.010

3-D touch probes for workpiece alignment and measurement

3-D touch probes for workpiece alignment and measurement

Keywords Probes, Measurement

The latest Heidenhain TS 632 3-D touch trigger probe incorporating infra-red signal transmission beam has an operating time of 250 hours. The TS 632 can therefore be applied to perform monitoring, inspection and quality assurance tasks in minimally manned operations and used for long cycles such as those involving digitising workpieces or models (see Plate 7).

Plate 7 3-D touch trigger probes enable set-up tasks to be performed quickly, conveniently and precisely

The 3-D touch trigger probes from Heidenhain at Burgess Hill in West Sussex enable set-up tasks to be performed quickly, conveniently and precisely while accommodating automatic workpiece measurement with the component still on the machine.

Most CNC controls, and in particular the Heidenhain TNC contouring control system, provide a number of cycles for automatic measurement involving common geometrical forms such as holes, rectangular pockets, circular pockets, slots, studs, bolt hole circles, and planes. This can bring further benefits, for example, to allow automatic compensation of set-up position error during production, without manual intervention or to measure machined surfaces automatically in order to establish tool wear compensation in the part program.

The Heidenhain programme of 3-D touch probes includes the TS 220 which sends the trigger signal to the control via cable and is intended primarily for machines with manual tool change. For machines with automatic tool change, Heidenhain's latest TS 632 is available with trigger signal transmission via infra-red light beam.

The Heidenhain 3-D touch probes create the trigger signal via a contact-free optical switch. The sensor therefore operates without wear and will guarantee long-term stability and performance.

For further details contact Michael Laming, Commercial Manager, Heidenhain (GB) Limited, 200 London Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 9RD. Tel: +44 (0)1444 247711.