Abstract Apparatus for measuring a plurality of dimensions of a component held in a fixture which has recesses to locate probes adapted to sense the dimensions. The recesses are arranged so as to make it possible for the probes to be identical as regards a distance obtained in the zero condition of the probe between a face thereof engaging a locating face of the recess and the working tip of a dimension-sensing movable element of the probe. The positioning of the probe in this way constitutes an at least rough calibration thereof. Further or fine calibration is effected by the use of a master of the component. The known dimensions of the master are stored in a computer and the actual dimensions of the component are computed by forming in respect of each dimension the algebraic sum of the master dimension, a probe reading taken when the master was in the fixture and a probe reading taken when the component was in the fixture.
Apparatus for determining a dimension of a given surface of a component comprising a fixture for supporting the component, a probe body connected to the fixture, a sensing element supported on said probe body for movement relative thereto, the sensing element being engageable with said given surface when the component is present in the fixture, electrical means responsive to the position of the sensing element relative to said probe body for producing a first output signal, means for zeroing the output signal for a given position of said sensing element and for making the first output signal positive and negative when the element is moved to the respective sides of the given position, a master representing said component and having a given surface corresponding to said given surface of the component and being supportable on the fixture in place of the component, a computer having a data store, means contained in said store representing a dimension being the predetermined actual dimension of the master at said given surface thereof, means contained in said store representing a predetermined range of acceptable dimensions of the component at said given surface thereof, means for reading the first output signal of the electrical means into said store and thereby produce in the store means representing respectively a second output signal produced when the sensing element is engaged with said given surface of the master and a third output signal produced when the sensing element is engaged with said given surface of the component, and programme means provided in the computer to produce the algebraic sum of said actual dimension of the master and said second and third output signals, said sum representing a dimension being the actual dimension of the component at said given surface thereof, said program means including means for determining if said component dimension lies within said acceptable range.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
308 words
Apparatus for determining a dimension of a given surface of a component comprising a fixture for supporting the component, a probe body connected to the fixture, a sensing element supported on said probe body for movement relative thereto, the sensing element being engageable with said given surface when the component is present in the fixture, electrical means responsive to the position of the sensing element relative to said probe body for producing a first output signal, means for zeroing the output signal for a given position of said sensing element and for making the first output signal positive and negative when the element is moved to the respective sides of the given position, a master representing said component and having a given surface corresponding to said given surface of the component and being supportable on the fixture in place of the component, a computer having a data store, means contained in said store representing a dimension being the predetermined actual dimension of the master at said given surface thereof, means contained in said store representing a predetermined range of acceptable dimensions of the component at said given surface thereof, means for reading the first output signal of the electrical means into said store and thereby produce in the store means representing respectively a second output signal produced when the sensing element is engaged with said given surface of the master and a third output signal produced when the sensing element is engaged with said given surface of the component, and programme means provided in the computer to produce the algebraic sum of said actual dimension of the master and said second and third output signals, said sum representing a dimension being the actual dimension of the component at said given surface thereof, said program means including means for determining if said component dimension lies within said acceptable range.