METHOD FOR MEASURING NON-TOOTHED TOOLS USING A NON-CONTACT TOOL SETTER

• Main Authors: ANDREWS, Paul, TOCKNELL, Stephen, Lindsey, HOYLE, Samuel, David, MERRIFIELD, Benjamin, Jason
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 16.08.2023
• Subjects: COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOTDIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT; DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g.ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OFPARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; MEASURING; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS; MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEARDIMENSIONS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; TESTING; TRANSPORTING

An improved method is described for measuring a dimension (e.g. diameter) of a non-toothed tool, for example a grinding tool such as a diamond coated burr. The method may be implemented on a machine tool, such as a lathe, machining centre or the like. The method comprises passing a beam of light from a transmitter to a receiver. The receiver produces a received intensity signal related to the intensity of received light. Analysis of variations in the received intensity signal is performed when a rotating tool is moved relative to the light beam to enable a dimension of the tool to be measured. In particular, it may be determined when the received intensity signal has crossed a threshold for at least a defined duration, the defined duration being less than the time taken for one complete rotation of the tool.