PowerPoint to accompany

Technology of Machine Tools

6th Edition

Krar • Gill • Smid

The Coordinate
Measuring System
Unit 16

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Permission required for reproduction or display.
 16-2

Objectives
• The purpose of and how to apply the
coordinate measuring system
• The main components and operation
of the measuring unit
• The advantages of the coordinate
measuring system
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Coordinate Measuring System

• Measurements
dimensioned from three
rectangular coordinates
– X, Y, and Z
– High degree of accuracy
• To .000050 in. or 0.001 mm
• Achieved using moiré fringe
• Machines widely used in
field of measurement and
Lathe equipped with inspection
coordinate measuring system
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 16-4

Parts of the Measuring Unit

• Three basic components
– Machined spar with calibrated grating
– Reading head
– Counter with digital readout display
• Grating spar etched to .0001 in. resolution
– Can have resolution of .000050 in.
• Transparent index grating mounted in
reading head
– Same resolution as Grating spar
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Principle of the Moiré Fringe

• Example: Two pieces of plastic sheeting,
each with a series of equally spaced lines
• Place one sheet over
other at angle
• Lines cross, give
dark bands
• As move top sheet to right, position of bands
shift down (bands move vertically)

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 16-6

Line Filament
Principal Focus of Lens

Principle of the
Coordinate
Measuring Unit Collimating Lens
Signals from cells
Light from lamp
transmitted passes
to digital
Photocell Strips throughdisplay
readout lens converted
box –
Reading
Beam head
strikes moved
fringe into parallel
Signal lightcell
from next beam
longitudinally,
pattern and reflectedband + or - .001 in.
moves
back vertically
to one of four and Index Grating
picked up bycells
photoelectric next cell
Scale Grating
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 16-7

Operation of the Measuring Unit

Light Intensity on
Photocells 3 and 4
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Permission required for reproduction or display.
 16-8

Advantages of the Coordinate

Measuring System
• Readout boxes provide clear, visible
numbers
• Provides constant readout of tool position
• Reading indicates exact position of tool and
not affected by machine or lead screw wear
• System eliminates need for gage blocks and
measuring rods on jig borers and vertical
milling machines
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Advantages of the Coordinate

Measuring System
• Eliminates need for operator calculations
and inherent possibility of errors
• Machine setup time is greatly reduced
• Production increased since workpiece must
be checked for one size only
• Reduces need for operator skill
• Eliminates scrap and rework
• Most machine tools can be fitted with system
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Coordinate Measuring Machines

• Developed to speed up process of measuring
parts produced on NC machine tools
• Can measure almost any shape with extreme
accuracy and without use of special gages
• Computer controlled
• Installed on production lines
– Automate inspection
– Minimize operator error
– Provide uniform part quality