Laser measuring system and method for turning machine

Claim 2

In an optical workpiece measuring system for a turning machine having: a frame; a spindle mounted for rotation upon the frame and having a chuck secured thereto for rotation therewith; a Z-axis slide mounted upon the frame for movement along an axis parallel to the spindle axis; an X-axis slide carried by the Z-axis slide for movement along an axis transverse to the spindle axis; and a turret mounted upon the X-axis slide for rotation to a plurality of discrete index stations; the improvement comprising: a gage head having a movable probe adapted to engage a surface of the workpiece and a reflector movable with the probe for receiving and reflecting a laser measurement beam; a bracket connected to the gage head, and an index position on the turret for securing the gage head to the turret such that when the turret is in a measuring index station the probe is adapted to be aligned with a diameter of the workpiece; an interferometer for splitting a laser beam into a reference beam and the measurement beam and for reuniting the reference beam and the measurement beam to form a return beam, the interferometer being mounted upon the Z-axis slide such that it is in optical alignment with the reflector when the turret is in the measuring index station; a laser transducer adapted to generate the laser beam positioned in optical alignment with the interferometer; and a receiver for receiving the return beam and generating a measurement signal positioned in optical alignment with the interferometer.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1, further comprising: a reference collar of known diameter mounted upon the chuck in encircling relationship thereto adapted to be engaged by the probe for establishing a reference position.

Claim 4

The improvement of claim 2, wherein the gage head comprises: a housing; a slide mounted in the housing for axial movement therein, a gage arm operatively connected to the slide for movement therewith, the probe being carried by the gage arm; a support attached to the slide, the reflector being craddled within the support; and means to bias the slide to an intermediate position.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 1, wherein the turret is of the type which is rotatable about an axis parallel to the spindle axis.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5, further comprising: moving the X-axis slide and the Z-axis slide to cause the gage head to engage a master reference collar on the chuck before the gage head is brought into engagement with the workpiece.

Claim 9

The method of claim 5, wherein the directing of the laser measurement beam comprises: directing a laser beam from a laser transducer to an interferometer mounted on the Z-axis slide in optical alignment with the reflector, the interferometer being adapted to split the laser beam into a reference beam and the measurement beam and to reunite the reference beam and the measurement beam to form a return beam.

Claim 10

The method of claim 7, wherein the indexing of the turret comrises: rotating the turret about an axis parallel to the chuck axis.

Claim 11

In an optical workpiece measuring system for a turning machine having: a frame; a spindle mounted for rotation upon the frame and having a chuck secured thereto for rotation therewith; a Z-axis slide mounted upon the frame for movement along an axis parallel to the spindle axis; an X-axis slide carried by the Z-axis slide for movement along an axis transverse to the spindle axis; and a turret mounted upon the X-axis slide for rotation to a plurality of discrete index stations; the improvement comprising: a gage head having a movable probe adapted to engage a surface of the workpiece; first optical means movable with the probe for receiving a laser measurement beam; a bracket connected to the gage head, and an index position on the turret for securing the gage head to the turret such that when the turret is in a measuring index station the probe is adapted to be aligned with a diameter of the workpiece; second optical means mounted upon the Z-axis slide in optical alignment with the first optical means when the turret is in the measuring index station for establishing a measurement path for the measurement beam, one of the optical means being adapted to split a laser beam into a reference beam and the measurement beam and reunite the beams to form a return beam and the other of the optical means being adapted to reflect the measurement beam back to the said one of the optical means; a laser transducer adapted to direct the laser beam to one of the optical means; and a receiver for receiving the return beam from the said one of the optical means and for generating a measurement signal.

Claim 12

In an optical workpiece measuring system for a turning machine having: a frame; a spindle mounted for rotation upon the frame and having a chuck secured thereto for rotation therewith; a Z-axis slide mounted upon the frame for movement along an axis parallel to the spindle axis; an X-axis slide carried by the Z-axis slide for movement along an axis transverse to the spindle axis; and a turret mounted upon the X-axis slide for rotation to a plurality of discrete index stations; the improvement comprising: a gage head having a movable probe adapted to engage a surface of the workpiece; first optical means movable with the probe for receiving a laser measurement beam; a bracket connected to the gage head, and an index position on the turret for securing the gage head to the turret such that when the turret is in a measuring index station the probe is adapted to be aligned with a diameter of the workpiece; second optical means mounted upon the Z-axis slide in optical alignment with the first optical means when the turret is in the measuring index station for establishing a measurement path for the measurement beam, one of the optical means being adapted to split a laser beam into a reference beam and the measurement beam and reunite the beams to form a return beam and the other of the optical means being adapted to reflect the measurement beam back to the said one of the optical means; a laser transducer adapted to direct the laser beam to one of the optical means; and a receiver for receiving the return beam from the said one of the optical means and for generating a measurement signal.