Coordinate measurement machines with removable accessories

A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine for measuring the coordinates of an object in space is provided. The AACMM includes a base and an arm having an opposed first and second ends. The arm including a plurality of connected arm segments that each includes at least one position transducer for producing a position signal. An electronic circuit receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer and provides data corresponding to a position of the measurement device. A noncontact measuring device is coupled to the first end, the device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and is configured to determine a distance to an object based at least in part on the speed of light in air. A processor is configured to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of a point on the object in response to receiving the position signals and the distance to the object.

Grating-based scanner with phase and pitch adjustment

A method for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object point on a surface of an object, the method including steps of: sending a beam of light to a diffraction grating; sending a first diffracted beam and a second diffracted beam to an objective lens to form at least two spots of light, which are passed through transparent regions of a plate to produce a first fringe pattern on the surface of the object; imaging the object point illuminated by the first fringe pattern onto a photosensitive array to obtain a first electrical data value; moving the plate to a second position; sending spots through plate to produce a second fringe pattern on the surface of the object; imaging the point onto the array point to obtain a second electrical data value; and calculating the three-dimensional coordinates of the first object point.

Coordinate measurement machine with distance meter used to establish frame of reference

A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine AACMM includes a distance meter to measure 3D coordinates of at least three targets to establish a position and orientation of the articulated arm within a frame of reference established by the at least three targets. A method of operating the AACMM for measuring three-dimensional coordinates of an object in space comprises: providing the AACMM in a AACMM frame of reference having an origin, the AACMM having a manually positionable arm portion, a base, a noncontact measurement device, and an electronic circuit, the arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion comprising a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the plurality of connected arm segments having at least one position transducer for producing a plurality of position signals, the first end connected to the base, the noncontact measurement device connected to the second end, an electromagnetic radiation transmitter, and a sensor, the electronic ...

Device for measuring six degrees of freedom

An apparatus and method to compensate bearing runout in laser tracker

An apparatus and method for correcting errors in measurement of three-dimensional coordinates of a retroreflector by a coordinate measurement device is provided. The method includes measuring a plurality of first angles, a plurality of first and second displacements along an axis, sending a beam of light to the retroreflector target, measuring two angles and a distance to the retroreflector, and determining the three-dimensional coordinates of the retroreflector.

Use of inclinometers to improve relocation of a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine

A method of relocating a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) from a first location to a second location, wherein the AACMM has, at the first location, a first origin point and a first frame of reference and, at the second location, a second origin point and a second frame of reference, the method including the steps of: measuring an amount of tilt of the portable AACMM along two perpendicular directions, each of which are approximately perpendicular to a gravity vector, with the portable AACMM in each of the first and second locations; measuring a first target and a second target with the portable AACMM in the first location to obtain, in the first frame of reference, a first set of x, y, and z coordinates and a second set of x, y, and z coordinates; measuring the first target and the second target with the portable AACMM in the second location to obtain, in the second frame of reference, a third set of x, y, and z coordinates and a fourth set of x, y, and z coordinates ...

Six degree-of-freedom laser tracker that cooperates with a remote projector to convey information

A method of conveying first information to a user of a coordinate measurement device by projecting a first pattern with a first target projector, the method including the steps of: providing the first target projector having a target-projector frame of reference and including a body, a first retroreflector, and a projector, providing the coordinate measurement device having a device frame of reference, sending the first beam of light from the coordinate measurement device to the first retroreflector; receiving the second beam of light from the first retroreflector; measuring the orientational set and translational set, the translational set based at least in part on the second beam of light; selecting the first information to be conveyed, the first information selected from the group consisting of a position on the object, a plurality of positions on the object, a direction indicated by a moving pattern, a message that includes one or more symbols or alphanumeric characters, a hidden feature ...

Six degree-of-freedom laser tracker that cooperates with a remote structured-light scanner

A method of measuring three or more surface sets on an object surface with a coordinate measurement device and a target scanner, each of the surface sets being 3D coordinates of a point on the object surface in a device frame of reference, each surface set including three values. The method includes: providing the target scanner having a body, a first retroreflector, a projector, a camera, and a scanner processor, providing the coordinate measurement device configured to send a first beam of light to the first retroreflector and to receive a second beam of light from the first retroreflector, the second beam of light being a portion of the first beam of light, the scanner processor and the device processor are jointly configured to determine the surface sets; selecting the source pattern of light; projecting the source pattern of light onto the object to produce the object pattern of light; imaging the object pattern of light onto the photosensitive array to obtain the image pattern of ...

Laser tracker that combines two different wavelengths with a fiber-optic coupler

A coordinate measurement device configured to send a first beam of light to a remote retroreflector target includes first and second light sources configured to emit first and second lights having first and second wavelengths, respectively, the wavelengths differing; a fiber-optic coupler that includes at least first, second and third ports, the first port configured to accept a first portion of the first light, the second port configured to accept a second portion of the second light, the third port configured to transmit a third light, the third light including a portion of each of the first and second portions. The device also includes an optical system; first and second motors, first and second angle measuring devices configured to measure first and second angles of rotation, respectively; a distance meter configured to measure a first distance from the device to the target based at least in part on a third portion of the second beam received by a first optical detector; and a processor ...

Six degree-of-freedom laser tracker that cooperates with a remote line scanner

A method of measuring surface sets on an object surface with a coordinate measurement device and a target scanner, includes providing the scanner having a body, a first retroreflector incorporating a pattern, a projector, a camera, and a processor, providing the device, selecting the source pattern of light; projecting the source pattern of light onto the object to produce the object pattern of light; imaging the object pattern of light onto the photosensitive array to obtain the image pattern of light; obtaining the pixel digital values for the image pattern of light; sending the first beam of light from the device to the first retroreflector; receiving the second beam of light from the first retroreflector; measuring the orientational and translational sets based at least in part on the second beam of light; determining the surface sets corresponding to the plurality of collinear pattern elements; and saving the surface sets.

Mounted scale bar

A scale-bar artifact can include a base, a structural component, at least two nests disposed on the structural component and configured to receive a spherically shaped object having a center, and at least three mounting assemblies, each mounting assembly including a first portion and a second portion. The second portion of each mounting assembly is coupled to the base. The first portion of each mounting assembly is coupled to the structural component. The first portion and second portion of each mounting assembly are in mutual contact. Each mounting assembly has a center of rotation. The centers of rotation of the three mounting assemblies share a common plane with the centers of the spherically shaped objects.

Mounted scale bar

Laser tracker used with six degree-of-freedom probe having separable spherical retroreflector

A method for measuring three-dimensional coordinates of a probe center includes: providing a spherically mounted retroreflector; providing a probe assembly; providing an orientation sensor; providing a coordinate measurement device; placing the spherically mounted retroreflector on the probe head; directing the first beam of light from the coordinate measurement device to the spherically mounted retroreflector; measuring the first distance; measuring the first angle of rotation; measuring the second angle of rotation; measuring the three orientational degrees of freedom based at least in part on information provided by the orientation sensor; calculating the three-dimensional coordinates of the probe center based at least in part on the first distance, the first angle of rotation, the second angle of rotation, and the three orientational degrees of freedom; and storing the three-dimensional coordinates of the probe center.

Diagnosing multipath interference and eliminating multipath interference in 3D scanners by directed probing

A method for determining 3D coordinates of points on a surface of the object by providing a remote probe having a probe tip and a non-contact 3D measuring device having a projector and camera coupled to a processor, projecting a pattern onto the surface to determine a first set of 3D coordinates of points on the surface, determining susceptibility of the object to multipath interference by projecting and reflecting rays from the measured 3D coordinates of the points, projecting a first light to direct positioning of the remote probe by the user, the first light determined at least in part by the susceptibility to multipath interference, touching the probe tip to the surface at the indicated region, illuminating at least three spots of light on the remote probe, capturing an image of the at least three spots with the camera, and determining 3D coordinates of the probe tip.

Diagnosing multipath interference and eliminating multipath interference in 3D scanners by directed probing

A method for determining 3D coordinates of points on a surface of the object by providing a remote probe having a probe tip and a non-contact 3D measuring device having a projector and camera coupled to a processor, projecting a pattern onto the surface to determine a first set of 3D coordinates of points on the surface, determining susceptibility of the object to multipath interference by projecting and reflecting rays from the measured 3D coordinates of the points, projecting a first light to direct positioning of the remote probe by the user, the first light determined at least in part by the susceptibility to multipath interference, touching the probe tip to the surface at the indicated region, illuminating at least three spots of light on the remote probe, capturing an image of the at least three spots with the camera, and determining 3D coordinates of the probe tip.

Scanner with phase and pitch adjustment

A method for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object point on a surface of an object, including steps of providing a transparent plate having a first region and a second region, the second region having a different wedge angle than the first region; splitting a first beam of light into a first light and a second light; sending the first light through the first region or the second region; combining the first light and the second light to produce a fringe pattern on the surface of the object, the pitch of the fringe pattern depending on the wedge angle through which the first light travels; imaging the object point onto an array point on a photosensitive array to obtain an electrical data value; determining the three-dimensional coordinates of the first object point based at least in part on the electrical data value.