ROTARY TABLE COMPENSATION

Abstract

A Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system comprising a CMM, a rotary table, and a rotation arrangement, wherein the CMM system is configured to be calibrated by determining the 6 dof pose of a jig, and to a method for calibrating. The jig may be mounted such that a current pose of the jig is associated with a current pose of the rotary table with respect to the CMM. The rotary table may be moved into multiple poses, and the 6 dof pose of the jig is measured for each of the multiple poses of the rotary table. An error map is generated, based on the angles associated with the poses of the rotary table, and is used to generate a coordinate transformation from the CMM coordinate system to the part coordinate system, which is associated with the rotary table, based on the error map.

Claims

1. Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system operable to measure an object, the CMM system comprising: a CMM being associated with a CMM coordinate system which is fixed with respect to the CMM, the CMM comprising a computing unit and at least one sensor for the determination of 3-dimensional coordinates of an object, in particular a tactile sensor or an optical sensor, a rotary table exhibiting means for holding an object and being associated with a part coordinate system, which is fixed with respect to the rotary table, a rotation arrangement configured to move the rotary table into different poses with respect to the CMM by means of a rotation movement, a jig configured to be used for the determination of its 6 degrees of freedom (6 dot) pose with the at least one sensor of the CMM, and arranged with respect to the rotary table such that a current pose of the jig is associated with a current pose information of the rotary table with respect to the CMM, particularly wherein the jig is part of the rotary table or mountable to the rotary table, wherein the CMM system provides for a calibration procedure that defines a process in which the rotary table is moved into multiple poses by setting different angular positions with respect to the rotation movement, and the calibration procedure is configured to automatically perform: measuring the 6 dof pose of the jig with the CMM for each of the multiple poses of the rotary table, generating an error map with the computing unit, based on the angles associated with the different angular positions, and the associated 6 dof poses of the jig, and determining with the computing unit the coordinate transformation from the CMM coordinate system to the part coordinate system, based on the error map.

2. Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system according to claim 1, wherein the rotation arrangement is configured as: single axis arrangement, wherein the rotary table is mounted to a basis, the basis is mounted to the CMM, and the setting of different angular positions comprises rotating the rotary table around a first axis of rotation with respect to the basis, or dual axis arrangement, wherein the rotary table is mounted to a basis via an interjacent swivel arm, wherein: the swivel arm is mounted to the basis and is rotatable with respect to the basis around a first axis of rotation, the rotary table is mounted to the swivel arm and rotatable about a second axis of rotation, wherein the swivel arm is constructed, such that the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are nominally perpendicular to each other, wherein the moving of the rotary table into multiple poses comprises rotating the swivel arm and/or the rotary table around the first respectively the second axis of rotation.

3. Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system according to claim 2, wherein: the CMM system comprises a software, the software having stored a coordinate transformation described by an angle-dependant matrix CT, wherein the rotation movement is assumed to be provided by ideally aligned and faultless rotation axes, wherein for the calibration procedure the coordinate transformation from the CMM coordinate system to the part coordinate system is described by an angle-dependent matrix, which takes errors of the rotation axes (6, 12) into account, the matrix being: CT.sub.α if the rotation arrangement is configured according to the single axis arrangement, wherein α is the rotation angle of the rotary table around the first axis of rotation, or CT.sub.α,βif the rotation arrangement is configured according to the dual axis arrangement, wherein α is the rotation angle of the swivel arm around the first axis of rotation and β is the rotation angle of the rotary table around the second axis of rotation, and wherein the coordinate transformation CT.sub.α, respectively CT.sub.α,β is embedded into the software by providing an error map CT.sup.−1∘CT.sub.α, respectively CT.sup.−1∘CT.sub.α,β.

4. Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system according to claim 1, wherein: different kinds of weights are mounted to the rotary table or to a part of the rotary arrangement, wherein the CMM is configured to measure, in particular automatically measure, the 6 dof pose of the jig for different weights, wherein the 6 dof pose of the jig for each weight is measured for at least a subset of the different angular positions, and the CMM is configured to provide a weight-dependant correction to the coordinate transformation, in particular, wherein in case the rotation arrangement is configured according to the dual axis arrangement the subset of the different angular positions comprises a rotation of the swivel arm around the first axis of rotation and/or a rotation of the rotary table around the second axis of rotation.

5. Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system according to claim 1, wherein the error map is implemented using harmonic expansion, polynomial expansion or lookup tables.

6. Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system according to claim 1, wherein the jig is either a modular component, which is mountable to the rotary table, or the jig is fixedly mounted to the rotary table.

7. Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system according to claim 1, wherein the jig is geometrically stable during the calibration procedure, or the mechanical characteristics and behaviour of the jig during the calibration procedure are stored on the computing unit and taken into account.

8. Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system according to claim 1, wherein the Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) comprises multiple sensors for the determination of 3-dimensional coordinates of an object, one of the sensors particularly being a tactile sensor, an optical sensor or a camera.

9. Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system according to claim 1, wherein the jig is an object which exhibits geometrical features to allow the determination of the 6 dof pose of at least parts of the rotation arrangement respectively, the jig in particular being: a plate with at least three spheres mounted to the plate a triangle on a plate, particularly a metallic triangle on a plate, a pattern, in particular a chessboard pattern, on a plate, or identical with the table or part of the table.

10. Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system according to claim 1, wherein the calibration procedure depends on multiple parameters, in particular multiple degrees of freedom associated to a movement of the rotation arrangement, at least one of the parameters is assumed invariable, and the calibration procedure is performed based on the at least one parameter which is assumed variable.

11. Calibration method for a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system, the CMM system comprising: a CMM being associated with a CMM coordinate system which is fixed with respect to the CMM, and comprising a computing unit and at least one sensor for the determination of 3-dimensional coordinates of an object, in particular a tactile sensor or an optical sensor, a rotary table exhibiting means for holding an object and being associated with a part coordinate system, which is fixed with respect to the rotary table, a rotation arrangement configured to move the rotary table into different poses with respect to the CMM by means of a rotation movement, a jig configured to be used for the determination of its 6 degrees of freedom (6 dot) pose with at least one of the sensors of the CMM, and arranged with respect to the rotary table such that a current pose of the jig is associated with a current pose information of the rotary table with respect to the CMM, particularly wherein the jig is part of the rotary table or mountable to the rotary table, the method comprising the steps of: moving the rotary table into multiple poses by setting different angular positions with respect to the rotation movement, measuring the 6 dof pose of the jig with the CMM for each of the multiple poses of the rotary table, generating an error map with the computing unit, based on the angles associated with the different angular positions, and the associated 6 dof poses of the jig, and determining with the computing unit the coordinate transformation from the CMM coordinate system to the part coordinate system, based on the error map.

12. Calibration method for a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system according to claim 11, wherein the rotation arrangement is configured as: single axis arrangement, wherein the rotary table is mounted to a basis, the basis is mounted to the CMM, and the setting of different angular positions comprises rotating the rotary table around a first axis of rotation with respect to the basis, or dual axis arrangement, wherein the rotary table is mounted to a basis via an interjacent swivel arm, wherein: the swivel arm is mounted to the basis and is rotatable with respect to the basis around a first axis of rotation, the rotary table is mounted to the swivel arm and rotatable about a second axis of rotation, wherein the swivel arm is constructed, such that the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are nominally perpendicular to each other, wherein the moving of the rotary table into multiple poses comprises rotating the swivel arm and/or the rotary table around the first respectively the second axis of rotation.

13. Method according to claim 11, wherein the method is computer-implemented, and comprises: providing a software for the Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) system, the software having stored a coordinate transformation described by a matrix CT, wherein the rotation movement is assumed to be provided by ideally aligned and faultless rotation axes, wherein the angle-dependant coordinate transformation from the CMM coordinate system to the part coordinate system is described by a matrix, which takes the tilting errors of the rotation axes into account, the matrix being: CT.sub.α if the rotation arrangement is configured according to the single axis arrangement, wherein α is the rotation angle of the rotary table around the first axis of rotation, or CT.sub.α,β if the rotation arrangement is configured according to the dual axis arrangement, wherein α is the rotation angle of the swivel arm around the first axis of rotation and β is the rotation angle of the rotary table around the second axis of rotation, embedding the coordinate transformation CT.sub.α, respectively CT.sub.α,βinto the software by providing an error map CT.sup.−1∘CT.sub.α, respectively CT.sup.−1∘CT.sub.α,β.

14. Method according to claim 11, further comprising: mounting a weight to the rotary table or to a part of the rotary arrangement and repeating the steps of the method, performing said process/cycle for different kinds of weights, providing a weight-dependant correction to the coordinate transformation.

15. Computer program product comprising program code, which is stored on a machine-readable medium, or being embodied by an electromagnetic wave comprising a program code segment, and has computer-executable instructions for performing, particularly when run on a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), to perform the method according to claim 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Such aspects are described or explained in more detail below, purely by way of example, with reference to working examples shown schematically in the drawing. Identical elements are labelled with the same reference numerals in the figures. The described embodiments are generally not shown true to scale and they are also not to be interpreted as limiting the invention. Specifically,

[0039] FIG. 1 an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the rotation arrangement is configured as single axis arrangement.

[0040] FIG. 2 an embodiment of the present invention in a calibration setup, wherein the rotation arrangement is configured as dual axis arrangement.

[0041] FIG. 3 an embodiment of an inventive calibration setup, wherein the rotation arrangement is configured as dual axis arrangement.

[0042] FIG. 4 an embodiment of an inventive CMM system, wherein the rotation arrangement is configured as dual axis arrangement.

[0043] FIG. 5 a workflow of an embodiment the inventive method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment, wherein the rotation arrangement is configured as single axis arrangement. The rotary table 2 is mounted to a basis 1, and is rotatable about a first axis of rotation 6. The setting of different angular positions is achieved by rotating the rotary table 2 around the first axis of rotation 6 with respect to the basis 1. A part coordinate system 4 is fixed with respect to the rotary table 2, and is e.g. defined such that the z′-axis is coaxial with the first axis of rotation, and the x′y′-plane lies on the surface of the rotary table 2. Furthermore, the rotary table exhibits means for holding a work piece 5, for example a fixture, herein embodied as simple holes 3.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in a calibration setup, wherein the rotation arrangement is configured as dual axis arrangement. By way of example, the rotary table 2 is mounted to an interjacent component 9, which forms a basis for the rotary table 2, and is rotatable around a second axis of rotation 12 with respect to the interjacent component 9. The interjacent component 9 is fixedly mounted to a swivel arm 10. The swivel arm 10 is rotatably mounted to a basis 1 via a swivel table 11, and is rotatable around a first axis of rotation 6. Furthermore, the swivel arm 10 is constructed, such that the first axis of rotation 6 and the second axis of rotation 12 are nominally perpendicular to each other. A jig consisting of a round plate 7, which is mounted to the rotary table 2, and 3 spheres 8 mounted to the plate 7 is used for a full calibration procedure. The measurement of the 3D coordinates of 3 spheres 8, and thus the 6 dof pose of the jig, generates information about index errors, tilting and translation errors of rotation axes, and wobbling errors.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a calibration setup, wherein the rotation arrangement is configured as dual axis arrangement. One or more spheres 8 are used as jig or part of a jig, either to perform a full calibration or to perform a partial calibration. The dual axis arrangement is setup such that the rotary table 2 comprises holes 3 in order to mount a work piece or a jig. The rotary table 2 is rotatably mounted to an interjacent component 9, which is fixedly mounted to a swivel arm 10. The swivel arm 10 is rotatably mounted to a basis 1 of a CMM via a swivel table 11. The swivel arm 10 is constructed, such that the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation, which are not shown in this figure, are nominally perpendicular to each other. A jig is either a modular component, which is mountable to the rotary table 2, such as shown for the two spheres 8 fixedly mounted to an L-shaped interjacent component, whereas the jig is solely mounted to the rotary table 2 for calibrating the rotation arrangement, and is removed for the measurement of a work piece. A jig could also be fixedly mounted to a part of the rotation arrangement, such as shown for the sphere 8, which is mounted to the interjacent component 9, or for the sphere 8, which is fixedly mounted to the swivel arm 10.

[0047] In some cases, a partial calibration might suffice. If it is known, that the swivel arm 10 is the biggest source of error and the error arising from the rotary table 2 can be neglected, a jig, herein embodied as a sphere 8 could also be fixedly mounted to the swivel arm 10, or the interjacent component 9. For example, spheres 8 that are attached to the static part to which the rotary table 2 is mounted, herein the interjacent component 9, can be used to calibrate the assembly of swivel arm 10 and swivel table 11. Since the rotary table 2 is less error prone to wobble and translation errors than the swivel arm 10 and swivel table 11, one sphere 8 on the rotary table 2 could provide a sufficiently accurate result.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a CMM system, wherein the rotation arrangement is configured as dual axis arrangement. The CMM is associated with a CMM coordinate system 13, which is fixed with respect to the CMM. The CMM comprises a measuring table 16, being part of a basis 1, a frame 14, an arm 15 comprising a probe head with a sensor 17. In this example the sensor 17 is embodied as a tactile sensor. The measuring table 16 is fixed with respect to the CMM coordinate system 13. The frame 14 is mounted to the basis 1, such that is movable along the x-axis. The arm 15 is mounted to the frame 14, such that it is movable along the y-axis. The probe head with the attached sensor 17 is mounted to the arm 15, and is movable along the z-axis. The CMM thus offers 3 translational degrees of freedom.

[0049] The CMM system comprises a rotational arrangement e.g. one as introduced in [0041] and shown in FIG. 3, which is attached to the basis 1 of the CMM, and a rotary table which is moved into different poses with respect to the CMM by the rotation arrangement. The swivel arm is mounted to the basis 1 and is rotatable with respect to the basis 1 around a first axis of rotation 6, and the rotary table is mounted to the swivel arm and rotatable about a second axis of rotation 12, wherein the swivel arm is constructed, such that the first axis of rotation 6 and the second axis of rotation 12 are nominally perpendicular to each other. In this embodiment, the part coordinate system 4 is defined such, that the second axis of rotation 12 is coaxial to the z′-axis of the part coordinate system 4, and the first axis of rotation 6 is parallel to the y′-axis of the CMM coordinate system 13, in the initial position. The composition of a rotary table and a rotational arrangement thus offers 2 additional degrees of freedom.

[0050] During the calibration procedure, the rotary table is moved into multiple poses by rotating the rotary table about different angles around the second axis of rotation 12, or rotating the swivel arm about different angles around the first axis of rotation 6, or both. In every pose, the 3D coordinates of the spheres are measured, such that the 6 dof pose of the jig can be determined. Based on the multiple, angle dependent measurements of the 6 dof pose of the jig in the different angular positions, an error map, a map of all the geometric errors of the composition of rotary table and rotation arrangement, is generated. Based on this error map, a coordinate transformation from the part coordinate system 4 to the CMM coordinate system 13 is generated.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows a workflow of an embodiment of the method. An inventive CMM system, in this embodiment comprising a rotation arrangement configured as dual axis arrangement is provided (a). A jig could e.g. be mounted to the rotary table only for calibration and could be removed for the actual measurement (b) or a jig could e.g. be fixedly mounted to a part of a swivel arm or to an interjacent component (b′). After the jig is arranged with respect to the rotary table such that a current pose of the jig is associated with a current pose information of the rotary table with respect to the CMM, the rotary table is moved into multiple poses by setting different angular positions with respect to the rotation movement (c). In this embodiment, where the rotation arrangement is configured as dual axis arrangement, moving the rotary table into multiple poses comprises rotating the swivel arm and/or the rotary table around the first respectively the second axis of rotation. For each of the multiple poses of the rotary table, the 6 dof pose of a jig is measured with at least one of the sensors comprised in the CMM (d). Based on the measured 6 dof poses of the jig, and the angles associated with the different angular positions, respectively poses of the rotary table, an error map is generated (e). Based on this error map, a coordinate transformation from the CMM coordinate system to the part coordinate system is determined (f).