Abstract

A modular fixture plate system includes fixture plates and docking stations for securing the fixture plates to a worksurface. Fixture plates include recessed corners for receiving keystones. A keystone may be used as a docking station in addition to or instead of a corresponding rail system. Fixture plates include magnets for providing a secure attachment to keystones, rails and other fixture plates to allow for rapid loading of parts and plates on any CMM or manufacturing system. Fixture plates are designed to be stacked multiple wide to fill the table and maximize coverage of a work surface. The keystone design allows a user to create L configurations or T configurations of plates from a single docking location.

IPC Classes  ?

• B23Q 37/00 - Metal-working machines, or constructional combinations thereof, built-up from units designed so that at least some of the units can form parts of different machines or combinationsUnits therefor in so far as the feature of interchangeability is important
• B23Q 1/03 - Stationary work or tool supports

Abstract

A modular fixture plate system includes fixture plates and docking stations for securing the fixture plates to a worksurface. Fixture plates include recessed corners for receiving keystones. A keystone may be used as a docking station in addition to or instead of a corresponding rail system. Fixture plates include magnets for providing a secure attachment to keystones, rails and other fixture plates to allow for rapid loading of parts and plates on any CMM or manufacturing system. Fixture plates are designed to be stacked multiple wide to fill the table and maximize coverage of a work surface. The keystone design allows a user to create L configurations or T configurations of plates from a single docking location.

IPC Classes  ?

• B23Q 37/00 - Metal-working machines, or constructional combinations thereof, built-up from units designed so that at least some of the units can form parts of different machines or combinationsUnits therefor in so far as the feature of interchangeability is important
• B23Q 1/03 - Stationary work or tool supports

Abstract

A spherically mounted retroreflector (SMR) includes a spherical body and an optical insert made of titanium to provide increased performance and lighter weight. The increased strength of titanium allows an optical insert with a smaller geometry that uses less material. The use of titanium for an optical insert also allow the thickness between the cavity of the body and the insert to vary. Titanium is lighter weight than SS which is more ergonomic for an operator. This is important for larger sizes of SMRs, such as approximately 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01S 7/481 - Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• G01S 17/42 - Simultaneous measurement of distance and other coordinates

Goods & Services

Accessories and supports for portable coordinate measuring machines, namely, portable tripods

Goods & Services

Accessories and supports for portable coordinate measuring machines, namely, tactile probes for scientific purposes for use in measuring distance, ball probes for scientific purposes for use in measuring distances, and spherically mounted retroreflectors in the nature of optical reflectors

Goods & Services

Accessories and supports for portable coordinate measuring machines, namely, tactile probes for scientific purposes for use in measuring distance, ball probes for scientific purposes for use in measuring distances, and spherically mounted retroreflectors in the nature of optical reflectors

Goods & Services

Accessories for coordinate measuring machines, namely, probes, tripods and mounts, targets, retroreflectors; tooling, namely, target holders, target adapters, ball probe holders, and ball probe adapters; calibrated reference geometries, namely, ball bars, scale bars, certified spheres, reference spheres; Accessories for coordinate measuring machines, namely, fixture plates and modular fixturing components

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed to enable manufacture of open-air corner-cube retroreflectors having a corner-cube cavity. The techniques involve additively forming a substrate by way of additive manufacturing technologies such as three-dimensional printing technologies. The techniques further involve optionally machining the additively formed surface of the substrate and replicating a reflective surface in the corner-cube cavity using a master that is coated with a reflective material. An adhesive is applied to the corner-cube cavity so that when the adhesive cures and the master is withdrawn from the corner-cube cavity, the reflective surface adheres to the adhesive and remains an integral part of the retroreflector.

IPC Classes  ?

• B22F 10/20 - Direct sintering or melting
• B33Y 80/00 - Products made by additive manufacturing
• B33Y 10/00 - Processes of additive manufacturing
• B29D 11/00 - Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
• G02B 5/122 - Reflex reflectors cube corner, trihedral or triple reflector type

Goods & Services

Coordinate measuring machines and instruments, accessories for coordinate measuring machines and instruments, namely, probes, tripods and mounts, targets, retroreflectors, fixture plates and modular fixturing components; tooling for coordinate measuring machines and instruments, namely, target holders, target adapters, ball probe holders, and ball probe adapters; calibrated reference geometries, namely, ball bars, scale bars, certified spheres, reference spheres.

Goods & Services

Accessories for coordinate measuring machines, namely, probes, tripods and mounts, targets, retroreflectors; tooling, namely, target holders, target adapters, ball probe holders, and ball probe adapters; calibrated reference geometries, namely, ball bars, scale bars, certified spheres, reference spheres; Accessories for coordinate measuring machines, namely, fixture plates and modular fixturing components

Goods & Services

Accessories and supports for portable coordinate measuring machines, namely tactile probes for scientific purposes for use in measuring distance, ball probes for scientific purposes for use in measuring distances, and spherically mounted retroreflectors in the nature of optical reflectors

Goods & Services

Accessories and supports for portable coordinate measuring machines, namely, portable tripods

Goods & Services

Measuring probes, namely, spherically mounted retroreflectors in the nature of optical reflectors and optical targets for use with portable coordinate measuring machines

Goods & Services

Accessories and supports for portable coordinate measuring machines, namely, portable tripods

Goods & Services

Accessories and supports specially adapted for portable coordinate measuring machines, namely tripods, rolling stands, and mounts

Goods & Services

Measuring probes, namely, spherically mounted retroreflectors in the nature of optical reflectors and optical targets for use with portable coordinate measuring machines

Abstract

A portable metrology stand is disclosed that has three primary legs, which are rigidly, rotatably attached to a base support, which prevents the leg tubes from rotating outwardly beyond a defined angle by adjustable hard stops associated with the base support. The base support is itself supported by a center column disposed between the three legs. The legs are rigidly displaced from the center column by struts. A tensioning nut is threaded onto a bottom end of a clamping collar which is pulled up against an adjustable snap-ring in a snap-ring groove in the center column. Tightening the tensioning nut onto the clamping collar draws the clamping collar down into the tensioning nut thereby forcing outwardly the struts and forcing the legs against the adjustable hard stops.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16M 11/34 - Members limiting spreading of legs
• G01D 11/30 - Supports specially adapted for an instrumentSupports specially adapted for a set of instruments

Goods & Services

Accessories and supports for portable coordinate measuring machines, namely tactile probes for scientific purposes for use in measuring distance, ball probes for scientific purposes for use in measuring distances, and spherically mounted retroreflectors in the nature of optical reflectors

Abstract

A portable metrology stand is disclosed that has three upper leg tube assemblies rotatably attached by way of a shoulder member to a base support member. The stand has adjustable hard stops between the shoulder member and the base support structure that prevent the upper leg tube assemblies from rotating outwardly when the hard stops are engaged. The stand also has a partially-threaded center column positioned between the upper leg tube assemblies being rigidly displaced from the center column by struts connected to a clamping collar surrounding the center column, wherein a tensioning nut is threaded downwardly onto an upper portion of the clamping collar, and wherein tightening of the tensioning nut results in driving the clamping collar downwardly thereby pushing bottom portions of the upper leg tube assemblies outwardly and compressing the adjustable hard stops thereby maintaining the upper leg tube assemblies in a state of compression between the struts and the adjustable hard stops.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16M 11/34 - Members limiting spreading of legs
• G01D 11/30 - Supports specially adapted for an instrumentSupports specially adapted for a set of instruments

Abstract

Various intelligent stands are disclosed that sense potential changes in their position and environment such that they can provide an alert and feedback to a user of the stand or software that is being used in conjunction with a portable Coordinate Measuring Machine (“CMM”) if movement or an environmental change has occurred that may impact the accuracy of a measurement made by a CMM that is being supported by the intelligent stand. In various embodiments, the smart stand also contains onboard software capable of collecting data from a CMM eliminating the need for a separate computer with associated measurement software. The smart stand also has the ability to work with a network of other wireless sensors that can be attached to the part of interest or objects in the environment to sense if the part has been bumped or the extended environment has changed.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16M 11/00 - Stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles placed thereon
• G01B 5/00 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
• F16M 11/28 - Undercarriages for supports with one single telescoping pillar
• F16M 11/24 - Undercarriages with or without wheels changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only
• F16M 11/18 - Heads with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• F16M 11/06 - Means for attachment of apparatusMeans allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand allowing pivoting
• F16M 11/42 - Stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles placed thereon with arrangement for propelling the support
• G01B 5/008 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques for measuring coordinates of points using coordinate measuring machines
• G01S 17/66 - Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• G01S 7/481 - Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• G01S 7/497 - Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

Various intelligent stands are disclosed that sense potential changes in their position and environment such that they can provide an alert and feedback to a user of the stand or software that is being used in conjunction with a portable Coordinate Measuring Machine ("CMM") if movement or an environmental change has occurred that may impact the accuracy of a measurement made by a CMM that is being supported by the intelligent stand. In various embodiments, the smart stand also contains onboard software capable of collecting data from a CMM eliminating the need for a separate computer with associated measurement software. The smart stand also has the ability to work with a network of other wireless sensors that can be attached to the part of interest or objects in the environment to sense if the part has been bumped or the extended environment has changed.

IPC Classes  ?

• G12B 9/00 - Housing or supporting of instruments or other apparatus
• G01D 21/02 - Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass
• G01B 5/008 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques for measuring coordinates of points using coordinate measuring machines

Goods & Services

Accessories for coordinate measuring machines, namely, probes, tripods and mounts, targets, tooling, namely, target holders, target adapters, ball probe holders, and ball probe adapters; and calibrated reference geometries, namely, ball bars, scale bars, certified spheres, and reference spheres