New 5-axis head for touch-trigger inspection on CMMs gives up to three-fold increase in throughput

Renishaw is introducing another innovative measurement product that is expected to transform inspection performance on a wide range of co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs). Utilising technology developed for the multi-award winning REVO® measurement system, the new PH20 probe head offers unique ‘head touches’ for rapid touch-trigger measurement, and fast infinite 5-axis positioning to guarantee optimal feature access. Its compact design makes it suitable for new CMM purchases and as a retrofit to the vast majority of existing CMM touch-trigger installations.

Proven probe performance

The new PH20 probe head also benefits CMM users with adaptive positioning to accommodate part misalignment, fast calibration routines, and an integral TP20 probe mount that optimises the working volume of the CMM, bringing 5-axis capability to smaller machines for the first time.

By incorporating the industry standard TP20 touch-trigger probe, users of the PH20 probe head will immediately have access to a range of proven probe modules, providing a wide selection of trigger forces, directional sensing options and extensions to meet application requirements. The detachable modules provide crash protection and can be automatically changed using the MCR20 change rack. Companies with existing TP20 systems will be able to upgrade to PH20 and utilise their existing modules*.

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Steps to create DCC programs in open layout (Part 2)

We’re talking about part set up in the previous installment, which I think is definitely worth your spending time on because you don’t want to get stuck half way and realize that you have to change your set up to get work done. The next thing I’d like to discuss is probe configuration. If you get on any 5-day training course I’ll bet you that probe calibration will normally covered on day 1. But I don’t want to talk about probe calibration here since everyone knows how to do this on his own cmm very well, instead, I’d like to share some opinions about how to select your probe configuration efficiently.


Step Two: Probe configuration


1, Non-index probe vs. index probe

If you’re running a Zeiss cmm equipped with Zeiss ST probe system (usually with tool rack) then building different kind of probes for your work piece will possibly your regular job depending on the complexity and similarity or your products. This kind or non-index probe system is really good for most of complicated machined parts or castings (especially engine components) because you can easily custom-build special probes to check deep bores or groove features. But since most people use index probes like PH10 or RDS we’ll focus on these types of probes here and also I won’t talk about Revo head simply because many people haven’t even seen it physically.

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Measurement Challenges for Microscale

Introduction

We live in a world where state-of-the-art consumer products and technologies are continuing to shrink in size while achieving unprecedented performance. The demand for new and more capable micro and nanoscale measurement products has been driven by the increasing miniaturization of components across a wide range of applications including

• medical devices e.g. hearing aid, pace maker, endoscope subcomponents, implants (dental or joint),

• Soft or delicate material, e.g. plastics, bio-compatible materials such as peek,

• High aspect ratio features, e.g. ink jet nozzles, fuel injectors,

• Polished surfaces with steeply sloping sides, e.g. mold making, medical joint implants, optics

• Precision mechanisms: disk drives, micromotors, ball bearings, watches

• and many more.

Product reliability in these applications depends on the quality of the subcomponents and mating parts which is defined by the capability of the measurement technology. As parts continue decreasing in size, the tolerances levels are also decreasing, making measurement a challenge and current technologies are not keeping scale with this need. Everything from implanted medical devices to diesel injector nozzles can be produced more efficiently, at lower cost, with higher yields, through the use of higher precision, more accurate, reliable, and flexible measurements.

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