DE102011109580A1 - Measuring machine, particularly tactile measuring device, such as contour measuring device for mechanical measurement of certain component, comprises machine unit with probe, which is detachably and positively fastened at probe receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

The measuring machine (1) comprises a machine unit (2), which has a probe receiver (3) and a probe (4), which is detachably and positively fastened at the probe receiver. A mass storage unit (5) is arranged in or on the probe, which is connected with a Universal serial busconnector (6). A universal serial bus socket (7) is formed for interaction with the universal serial bus connector, which is arranged at or in the probe receiver. The universal serial bus socket stands in connection with an electronic control unit (18).

Description

The invention relates to a measuring machine for the mechanical measurement of a component, wherein the measuring machine comprises a machine part with at least one probe recording and at least one on the probe recording positively and releasably attachable probe.

Measuring machines of this type, which detect a geometry with a probe (tactile measuring devices), such as, for example, contour measuring devices, roughness measuring devices, 2-D measuring devices and 3-D measuring devices, require different measuring probes for the various measuring tasks. These are mechanically connected to the measuring device when a measuring probe is used to carry out the measuring process. The button recording can be pivotable or displaceable in different axes.

For simple tactile measuring instruments, the user of the device often selects the required probe via a measuring software. The probe is then removed from a range of probes and inserted into the measuring machine. The button has no integrated electronics for identification. The disadvantage here is that it occasionally comes to user errors in the selection. If a wrong measuring probe is selected by means of the measuring software, the recorded measuring data are calculated with wrong parameters, so that the measurement is faulty. This, if left unnoticed, can cause significant quality assurance problems for the product being measured.

Since measuring instruments set up close to production are frequently operated by technically untrained personnel, the danger of a mix-up of touch probes is particularly high.

Are also known probes (especially length probes), which have an integrated electronics for signal processing, ie a proprietary electronics. This electronics requires software that must be developed by the probe manufacturer. This is correspondingly expensive. The electronics usually serve the signal conditioning and offers only little memory. Such a solution is out of the DE 10 2004 023 645 B4 known. The probe here has a cable that can be connected to a computer via a USB interface. Thus, a data exchange with the computer is possible.

Similar solutions reveal the DE 20 2008 011 629 U1 and the DE 10 2009 035 747 A1 ,

To avoid confusion of probes, it is also known to provide tactile probes with a mechanical coding and thus to enable detection of the probe.

Thus, if identification systems for probes of measuring machines are known, they are relatively complex and require in particular in the software development a corresponding effort.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a measuring machine of the type mentioned, with these disadvantages can be avoided. It should therefore be possible in a simple manner an identification of a probe on a measuring machine, which should be able to fall back on simple and commercially available components. Thus, it should be possible in a cost effective manner to achieve reliable detection of the probe used in the measuring machine and thus to prevent working with a wrong probe.

The solution of this object by the invention is characterized in that a mass memory is arranged in or on the probe, which is connected to a USB connector (USB: Universal Serial Bus) or equipped, wherein on or in the probe recording a USB socket designed to cooperate with the USB plug is arranged, and wherein the USB socket is connected to an electronic device control.

The mass storage device, together with the USB plug, is preferably designed as a USB stick. In this case, in particular, a commercially available USB stick is used, which is arranged in a recess in the probe. The USB socket can be arranged in a recess in the probe receptacle. Of particular advantage here is the quasi-automatic production of the USB connection in the arrangement of the probe on the probe recording, namely, when the positive and proper installation of the probe on the probe recording of the USB plug is completely inserted into the USB socket ,

The probe has, according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a first section extending from a mechanical attachment point on the probe receptacle in a first direction and a second section extending from the mechanical attachment point in an opposite second direction; It is then further provided that in the region of the first portion, a measuring element and in the region of the second portion of the mass memory is arranged. As will be described in more detail later, this is a thermal decoupling of the measuring range of Measuring probes from the heat source, which represents the mass storage, so that measurement inaccuracies can be reduced or largely avoided.

At least one dowel pin or dowel pin or at least one screw can be provided for the positive fixing of the probe to the probe. But it is also alternatively possible that at least one mating surface on the probe and a corresponding mating surface on the probe recording are available for the positive determination of the probe on the probe recording, wherein a holding force between the probe recording and probe is made by at least one magnet ,

In any case, identification data for the identification of the measuring probe are stored on the mass memory so that the system can autonomously check whether the correct measuring probe has been fitted after installing the measuring probe on the measuring probe holder on the basis of the installed measuring software in the instrument control.

Calibration data for the probe can also be stored on the mass memory.

Thus, the invention is based on a mass-produced USB device, in particular an electronic, nonvolatile USB mass storage device ("USB stick", "USB drive"), which is installed directly in the tactile measuring probe or integrated into it is.

The push button parameters as well as additional information can be stored on the USB mass storage device. The probe can be uniquely identified with the stored data. Thus, the risk of confusion for the user of the meter is banned because the probe parameters can always be correctly recognized by the control of the measuring machine and calculated accordingly by the measuring software in the control of the machine.

In the probe recording, the corresponding USB socket is integrated with and connected via USB cable to the evaluation PC of the measuring machine. The costs are extremely low, since the required USB components are available in bulk. Compared with the high cost of proprietary electronics, which are integrated in known probes, and taking into account the associated hardware and software development costs with the proposal according to the invention an extremely cheap solution is provided with the absolute can be ensured that no false probe for Use comes.

The USB mass storage device is automatically recognized by the evaluation PC of the measuring machine and is thus completely available to the measuring software and the user.

When connecting the probe to the measuring device, the evaluation PC can read out, evaluate or save the probe data from the USB mass storage device. Furthermore, data, such as calibration data, images or measurement data, can be stored in large quantities directly on the probe (currently, memory sizes of a few gigabytes are easily possible). In the course of further PC peripheral development, the storage capacity will continue to increase without further development costs for the user of the present invention.

Thus, the present invention proposes to make a placement of a USB mass storage preferably in nichtmessenden part of the probe. This arrangement is preferred because the mass storage emits heat during operation, which would cause unwanted length expansions in the measuring part of the probe. Such expansions can falsify the measurement result.

Due to the preferred placement of the USB mass storage device in the non-measuring part of the probe, the thermal resistance to the measuring area of the probe can be increased to such an extent that the heat conduction from the USB mass storage device to the measuring area is extremely low. The measurement errors can therefore be kept below a critical measurement inaccuracy by a suitable design.

Of course, it would also be possible in kinematic reversal to arrange the mass storage of the USB socket and in or on the probe recording the USB connector.

In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are shown. Show it:

1 1 schematically shows a measuring machine with a probe receptacle and a probe, before the probe is attached to the probe receptacle, according to a first embodiment of the invention,

2 schematically one too 1 analogous representation of a second embodiment of the invention,

3 the side view and

4 the top view of a part of a measuring machine with a probe recording and at this fixed probe according to a third embodiment of the invention,

5 the side view and

6 the top view of the probe recording according to the solution 3 respectively. 4 ,

In 1 is schematically a measuring machine 1 indicated that a machine part 2 has, in turn, a probe recording 3 having. The probe recording 3 has a probe contact surface 19 for the defined installation of a probe 4 , which in turn is a counter-contact surface 20 having. The probe 4 has a measuring arm 21 , at the end of a measuring element 13 (Tastelement) is arranged.

The precise installation of the probe 4 at the probe input 3 is accomplished by not shown here Passstife and dowel holes; Furthermore, the probe can 4 at the probe input 3 be determined by one or more screws. The location of the probe attachment 4 on the probe holder forms a mechanical attachment point 10 ,

It is essential that in the probe 4 a mass storage 5 is arranged. This one comes with a USB plug 6 connected. USB plug 6 with mass storage 5 are designed as a standard USB stick; the mass storage 5 is in a recess 8th housed in the probe 4 is incorporated.

Furthermore, in the probe input 3 one to interact with the USB connector 6 trained USB socket 7 arranged. This is - as schematically indicated - with an electronic device control 18 connected. Also for the USB socket 7 is a recess 9 provided in the probe input 3 is incorporated.

In 1 can be seen that for mounting the probe 4 at the probe input 3 the probe 4 in the direction of the arrow on the probe recording 3 to be pushed. To the defined by dowel relative position on the probe recording 3 the probe must be ingested 4 thus be forced into a position in which the USB plug 6 completely into the USB socket 7 is inserted.

Accordingly, it results almost automatically that an electrical coupling between the USB connector 6 and thus the mass storage 5 and the USB socket 7 and thus the device control 18 is made when the probe 4 is mounted.

On the mass storage 5 are among other things also identification data of the probe 4 saved during assembly of the probe 4 at the probe input 3 automatically from the software in the device control 18 be read. An automatically driven comparison with the data of the required probe in the device control 18 lets the measuring machine independently recognize whether the right measuring probe for the intended measuring task 4 was mounted.

The solution after 2 differs from the one after 1 in that here the USB plug 6 in a front end area of the probe 4 is arranged. However, in this case the basically analogous configuration applies, as in connection with 1 has been described.

The further embodiment of the 3 to 6 shows a variant of the solution according to the invention, was taken into account in a special way the fact that the mass storage 5 generates a certain amount of heat during operation. The must not distort the measurement result, which is safely avoided with the construction shown in the figures mentioned.

The probe 4 here has two sections, namely a first section 11 and a second section 12 , The two sections 11 . 12 extend in different directions R ₁ and R ₂ away from the mechanical attachment point 10 here by a screw 15 is defined in a thread 17 (S. 6 ) is screwed in and with the probe 4 at the probe input 3 is fixed.

Furthermore, in the 3 to 6 also dowel pins 14 shown in holes 16 in the probe recording 3 engage and the probe 4 to be able to do that.

The probe rotates here about a rotation axis A; the screw 15 is present concentrically arranged to the rotation axis A. In a wave section 24 is a cable gland 23 trained, with a cable 22 from the USB socket 7 can be performed for device control.

As can be seen, warming caused by the mass storage 5 so look that only the second section 12 of the probe 4 extends, but not the first section 11 , which determines the required measurement precision.

A correspondingly large storage capacity of the mass storage 5 allows not only identification data for the probe 4 stored here. Any other information can be stored, for example Measurement data or data on the history of the measurements taken.

Furthermore, in principle it can also be provided that on the mass storage 5 Software updates are stored for the control software of the measuring machine, which is then after the mounting of the probe 4 on the probe recording 3 be loaded from the machine control.

Computertechnisch usual and meaningful functions can likewise on the mass memory 5 be stored, such. As a cipher for data, a write protection, etc.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

measuring machine

2

machinery

3

Probe carrier

4

probe

5

mass storage

6

USB plug

7

USB port

8th

recess

9

recess

10

mechanical attachment point

11

first section

12

second part

13

measuring element

14

dowel

15

screw

16

Bore for dowel pin

17

thread

18

device control

19

Probe contact surface

20

Counter-abutment surface

21

measuring arm

22

electric wire

23

Grommet

24

shaft section

R ₁

first direction

R ₂

second direction

A

axis of rotation

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102004023645 B4 [0005]
• DE 202008011629 U1 [0006]
• DE 102009035747 A1 [0006]

Claims (10)

Measuring machine ( 1 ) for mechanical measurement of a component, wherein the measuring machine ( 1 ) a machine part ( 2 ) with at least one probe ( 3 ) as well as at least one of the touch probe receptacles ( 3 ) positive and detachable attachable probe ( 4 ), characterized in that in or on the probe ( 4 ) a mass storage ( 5 ), whereby this with a USB plug ( 6 ), wherein at or in the probe recording ( 3 ) one for interaction with the USB connector ( 6 ) formed USB socket ( 7 ) and wherein the USB socket ( 7 ) with an electronic device control ( 18 ). Measuring machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the mass memory ( 5 ) with USB plug ( 6 ) is designed as a USB stick. Measuring machine according to claim 2, characterized in that a commercially available USB stick ( 5 . 6 ) in a recess ( 8th ) in the probe ( 4 ) is arranged. Measuring machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the USB socket ( 7 ) in a recess ( 9 ) in the probe input ( 3 ) is arranged. Measuring machine according to claim 4, characterized in that in positive and proper installation of the probe ( 4 ) on the probe holder ( 3 ) the USB connector ( 6 ) into the USB socket ( 7 ) is completely inserted. Measuring machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the probe ( 4 ) from a mechanical attachment point ( 10 ) on the probe holder ( 3 ) extending in a first direction (R ₁ ) first section ( 11 ) and from the mechanical attachment point ( 10 ) extending in an opposite second direction (R ₂ ) second section ( 12 ), where in the area of the first section ( 11 ) a measuring element ( 13 ) and in the area of the second section ( 12 ) the mass storage ( 5 ) is arranged. Measuring machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that for the positive fixing of the probe ( 4 ) on the probe holder ( 3 ) at least one dowel pin ( 14 ) or fitting bolts and / or at least one screw ( 15 ) are provided. Measuring machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that for the positive fixing of the probe ( 4 ) on the probe holder ( 3 ) at least one mating surface on the probe and a corresponding mating surface on the probe receptacle ( 3 ), wherein a holding force between the probe holder ( 3 ) and probe ( 4 ) is produced by at least one magnet. Measuring machine according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that on the mass storage ( 5 ) Identification data for the identification of the probe ( 4 ) are stored. Measuring machine according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that on the mass storage ( 5 ) Calibration data for the probe ( 4 ) are stored.

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