Multi-Sensor 3-D Coordinate Measuring System

• Subject Area: Systems Engineering
• Term: Funded in 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 506100845

A tactile probing 3-D-coordinate measuring system (CMS) allows for an till these days unequalled combination of universality and flexibility regarding the geometrical measuring tasks as well as the relative accuracy and traceability of the obtained measuring values, including an automatic evaluation of the task-specific measurement uncertainty. For the automatic evaluation of the task-specific measurement uncertainty, the software option “Virtual Coordinate Measuring Machine” (VCMM) is applied. In its first version, VCMM was limited to measurements conducted with single point probing. Therefore, the number of measuring points has been limited in order to attain an acceptable measuring time. However, especially for the measurement of objects with significant form deviations, a high number of measuring points is mandatory to enable the correct separation of form, position and dimensional deviations. A high number of measuring points is also mandatory if a holistic digitalization of the measuring object is needed, as is frequently the case when measuring free form surfaces, for instance. There have been two approaches aiming to increase the possible number of measuring points: On the one hand, the second version of VCMM (VCMM (v2)), which is now available commercially, also allows for the evaluation of the task-specific measurement uncertainties of measurements conducted in scanning-mode. In this mode, the number of measuring points taken within a certain period is greatly enhanced compared to single point probing. On the other hand, generally a modern CMS is a multi-sensor measuring system that also allows for the integration of optical sensors. Due to the non-contact nature of probing, the application of optical sensors significantly reduces the measurement time or rather enhances the number of measuring points taken within a certain period. Nevertheless, the evaluation of task-specific uncertainties of measurement points taken with optical sensors is still a topic that needs further research, although it is urgently needed in practice. Such a modern multi-sensor CMS, including the software option VCMM (v2) is the subject matter of this proposal and shall be procured as a basis for further research activities within the field of dimensional metrology.The CMS to be procured will be used in research primarily for the necessary calibrations and reference measurements, including scanning measurement point extraction. It offers a highly accurate reference to reveal systematic measurement errors of evaluated measurement methods, procedures and strategies. Furthermore, it serves to determine the shape of measuring objects and systems to be investigated. In addition, the integration of sensor systems and demonstrators created in the research and development projects, such as a tactile probing measuring head as well as an optical confocal distance sensor, is planned to investigate their performance.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Multi-Sensor 3-D-Koordinatenmessgerät
• Instrumentation Group: 8720 Elektronische und pneumatische Längenmeßgeräte, Wegaufnehmer und Anzeigegeräte
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Leader: Professor Dr.-Ing. Tino Hausotte