A method includes the following steps: providing a toothed component on a coordinate measuring machine, wherein the measuring machine has first and second sensors for measuring geometric features of the toothed component, and movement axes for executing a measuring movement for acquiring measured values on the toothed component; first measuring of a geometric feature of the toothed component using the first and/or second sensor. A first relative measuring movement is executed to travel along a first measuring path, wherein one or more first measured values are acquired to determine the geometric feature. The method also includes the step of second measuring of a geometric feature of the toothed component using the first and/or second sensor, wherein a second relative measuring movement is executed to travel along a second measuring path; wherein an evaluation of the second measurement takes place in consideration of an axis position known from the first measurement.

A measurement method for a grooved axially symmetric body involves detecting the geometry of the peripheral surface of the axially symmetric body, reconstructing a virtual profile corresponding at least to the profile of the lateral flanks of a plurality of recesses or grooves of the peripheral surface of the grooved axially symmetric body, generating a plurality of virtual rounded bodies of a predetermined size and placed each at a tangent to a corresponding pair of lateral sides and making one or more measurements using a centre or another point belonging to said virtual rounded bodies as a reference point.

A process for aligning a laser in a gear inspection system is disclosed. The method comprises fixing a gear for inspection within a gear inspection system and emitting a first signal from a laser to a point of interest of the gear. A reflection of the first signal is received as the first signal reflects off the point of interest of the gear. Based on the reflection of the first signal, an orientation of the laser is adjusted. Subsequently, a second signal is emitted from the laser to the point of interest of the gear, and a reflection of the second signal is received as the second signal reflects off the point of interest of the gear. Values corresponding to the orientation of the laser are stored based on the reflection of the second signal.

A probe calibration method and calibration artifact (30, 70) whereby calibration can be performed without the use of machine axes capable of three dimensional positioning of a probe relative to a calibration sphere (40). The method includes a plurality of calibration spheres fixed in relation to one another via a rigid structure comprising a calibration artifact body (30, 70). The spheres are mounted such that each will be sensed by the probe at some position of a machine axis (W, N). In other words, the spheres lie in the region swept out by the sensor field of view (8, 78) over the movement of the machine axis. The calibration spheres are located at known positions (A, B, C) and the calibration artifact body is designed such that it may be mounted in a known location in place of a work piece.

An apparatus for inspecting and/or measuring a gear wheel workpiece, which comprises: a first workpiece spindle for fastening and rotationally driving the gear wheel workpiece, a rotational drive for rotationally driving the gear wheel workpiece when it is fastened on the first workpiece spindle, measuring means for inspecting and/or measuring the gear wheel workpiece when it is fastened on the first workpiece spindle,
wherein the rotational drive is designed to rotationally drive the gear wheel workpiece including the first workpiece spindle during a measurement and/or inspection phase, while the measuring means is used for inspecting and/or measuring the gear wheel workpiece, rotationally drive the gear wheel workpiece including the workpiece spindle during a spinning phase to spin off a liquid.

A method including the following steps: clamping and centering a toothing on a measuring spindle of a coordinate measuring machine; and measuring a geometry of a toothing using an optical measuring system of the coordinate measuring machine. The toothing is rotated during the measurement by a rotation of the measuring spindle. A rotational speed of the measuring spindle is adjusted and/or increased or decreased depending on a tolerance class of the toothing to be measured.

A gear inspection system comprises a spindle that receives a gear for inspection. The spindle includes an arbor with a central tapered structure, an annular substrate coupled to securements, each securement having a post and a ball. The arbor includes a bias member (which could be the posts of the securements) to bias the securements toward the central tapered structure such that the securements maintain contact with the central tapered structure regardless of a location of the annular substrate. The gear inspection system also includes a fixing mechanism that positions the gear on the spindle, a laser that emits a signal at a point of interest of the gear creating a reflected signal, and a receiver that receives the reflected signal. A processor transforms inputs from a user interface into adjustment instructions wherein an adjustment in a certain orientation is independent of an adjustment in other orientations.

A probe calibration method and calibration artifact (30, 70) whereby calibration can be performed without the use of machine axes capable of three dimensional positioning of a probe relative to a calibration sphere (40). The method includes a plurality of calibration spheres fixed in relation to one another via a rigid structure comprising a calibration artifact body (30, 70). The spheres are mounted such that each will be sensed by the probe at some position of a machine axis (W, N). In other words, the spheres lie in the region swept out by the sensor field of view (8, 78) over the movement of the machine axis. The calibration spheres are located at known positions (A, B, C) and the calibration artifact body is designed such that it may be mounted in a known location in place of a work piece.

In the straightening of radial run-out faults or linearity faults on elongate workpieces having at least one toothed region having peaks and troughs of the teeth of said toothed region, such as on toothed shafts or toothed racks, for ascertaining deviations from the ideally straight workpiece, the locations of the surfaces of the not yet straightened workpiece that form a reference plane are scanned at least at points or in portions on or in the region on the active reference circle or pitch circle, respectively, of the toothing that lies between the peaks and troughs of the teeth. The resulting measured items of data are utilized by the straightening machine such that a workpiece that is as ideally straight as possible at least in the toothed region is achieved by the straightening. The elevated locations of the tooth heads of the toothed region that form the peaks of the teeth and the elevated locations of neighboring tooth surfaces that lie in the reference plane are detected, and the height differentials of the elevated locations of the tooth heads in relation to the elevated locations of neighboring tooth surfaces that lie in the reference plane are ascertained. The height differentials are utilized by the straightening machine as corrective measured items of data such that said height differentials are considered when straightening the workpiece so as to form a workpiece that is as ideally straight as possible in the reference plane.

A method and machine whereby utilizing both tactile (46) and non-contact (50) sensors or probes for workpiece (56) inspection and/or measurement results in significant cycle time savings while accuracy is maintained.