Disclosed is a workpiece measurement method for determining the position of a workpiece on a machine tool based on feed shaft coordinates when a probe and the workpiece contact each other, in which the probe and the workpiece are moved relative to each other. The method includes the steps of moving one of the plurality of feed shafts to a desired measurement position, storing coordinate values of the one feed shaft at the desired measurement position, moving the probe and the workpiece relative to each other by means of the one feed shaft and another feed shaft, stopping the movement by the one feed shaft when the stored coordinate values have been reached, and measuring the workpiece at a plurality of measurement points by moving the probe using the other feed shaft in a state in which the one feed shaft is stopped at the coordinate values.

A system for process control of a composite fabrication process comprises an automated composite placement head, a vision system, and a computer system. The automated composite placement head is configured to lay down composite material. The vision system is connected to the automated composite placement head and configured to produce image data during an inspection of the composite material, wherein the inspection takes place at least one of during or after laying down the composite material. The computer system is configured to identify inconsistencies in the composite material visible within the image data, and make a number of metrology decisions based on the inconsistencies.

In one embodiment there is a computer numerical control machine implementing a method for measuring and digitizing a cylinder head combustion chamber using a touch probe, wherein the cylinder head combustion chamber includes an intake valve and an exhaust valve. The method includes receiving combustion chamber characteristics of the cylinder head combustion chamber. The method includes receiving probe measurement variables that describe how the touch probe measures the cylinder head combustion chamber. The method includes generating probe measurement lines for each portion of the cylinder head combustion chamber using the combustion chamber characteristics and the probe measurement variables. The method includes measuring, using the touch probe, probe measurement planes for each portion of the cylinder head combustion chamber using the probe measurement lines to generate probe measurements. The method includes digitizing the probe measurement planes for each portion of the cylinder head combustion chamber using the probe measurements.

A control apparatus for controlling a machine tool on the basis of a machining program is provided with: a storage unit which stores an inspection item list for a workpiece, said inspection item list being associated with the machining program; and a display unit which, when the machining program is executed, displays the stored inspection items associated with the machining program.

In one embodiment there is a computer numerical control machine implementing a method for measuring and digitizing a cylinder head combustion chamber using a touch probe, wherein the cylinder head combustion chamber includes an intake valve and an exhaust valve. The method includes receiving combustion chamber characteristics of the cylinder head combustion chamber. The method includes receiving probe measurement variables that describe how the touch probe measures the cylinder head combustion chamber. The method includes generating probe measurement lines for each portion of the cylinder head combustion chamber using the combustion chamber characteristics and the probe measurement variables. The method includes measuring, using the touch probe, probe measurement planes for each portion of the cylinder head combustion chamber using the probe measurement lines to generate probe measurements. The method includes digitizing the probe measurement planes for each portion of the cylinder head combustion chamber using the probe measurements.

A touch trigger probe interface for a machine tool is described that includes a probe communication portion for receiving probe event information from a touch trigger probe. A machine tool communication portion is also provided for outputting probe event information to a numerical controller of the machine tool. The machine tool communication portion outputs the probe event information as digital data packets, for example over a digital data bus. The digital data packets may include a time stamp and/or the touch trigger probe interface may receive timing information from the machine tool. A touch trigger probing system and a machine tool system including the probe interface are also described.

Disclosed is a workpiece measurement method for determining the position of a workpiece on a machine tool based on feed shaft coordinates when a probe and the workpiece contact each other, in which the probe and the workpiece are moved relative to each other. The method includes the steps of moving one of the plurality of feed shafts to a desired measurement position, storing coordinate values of the one feed shaft at the desired measurement position, moving the probe and the workpiece relative to each other by means of the one feed shaft and another feed shaft, stopping the movement by the one feed shaft when the stored coordinate values have been reached, and measuring the workpiece at a plurality of measurement points by moving the probe using the other feed shaft in a state in which the one feed shaft is stopped at the coordinate values.

A method for calibrating a CNC processing apparatus is provided that can significantly reduce the amount of operation time required for sensor calibration. A method of the present invention for calibrating a non-contact sensor in a CNC processing apparatus 1 includes a first step, a second step and a third step. In the first step, the center coordinates of a reference instrument are measured with a contact probe and thereby the machine coordinates of the center of the reference instrument are determined. In the second step, after a non-contact sensor 110 is mounted onto a spindle 26, the center coordinates of the reference instrument are measured only one time with the non-contact sensor 110, and thereby the non-contact sensor coordinates of the center of the reference instrument are determined. In the third step, calculations are made to determine the amount of displacement required to bring the non-contact sensor coordinates obtained in the second step into agreement with the machine coordinates obtained with the contact probe in the first step.

A system for process control of a composite fabrication process comprises an automated composite placement head, a vision system, and a computer system. The automated composite placement head is configured to lay down composite material. The vision system is connected to the automated composite placement head and configured to produce image data during an inspection of the composite material, wherein the inspection takes place at least one of during or after laying down the composite material. The computer system is configured to identify inconsistencies in the composite material visible within the image data, and make a number of metrology decisions based on the inconsistencies.

In a device and method for determining a contact between a tool and a workpiece, which are displaceable relative to each other, the tool or workpiece being rotationally fixedly connected to a shaft, the device includes a measuring arrangement including a measuring scale rotationally fixedly disposed on the shaft and at least one position encoder disposed in a stationary manner relative to the shaft, and a processing device. The position encoder is adapted to scan the measuring scale and to generate position values indicating a position of the shaft. The position values are fed to the processing device, which determines contact between the tool and the workpiece by evaluating a progression of the position values and signals the result of the evaluation by the status of a displacement signal.