43
The launch of a new metrology product line
The launch of a new
metrology
product line
Renishaw metrology product line developments
1972 David McMurtry invents the first 3D touch-trigger probe
1973 TP1, Renishaw’s first commercial probe for CMMs
1977 MP3, first probe for CNC machine tools
1987 SL10, Renishaw’s first laser calibration system
1987 MAETRACE (later TRACECUT), Renishaw’s first
scanning/digitising software
1989 RG1, Renishaw’s first position encoder system
2011 A significant new milestone for metrology ………..
the versatile gauge™
The Equator gauge is
• A comparator for medium to high volume gauging
• Robust – proven on the shop-floor and thermally ‘insensitive’
– re-zeroed using the principle of mastering
• Able to switch between multiple parts and capable of rapid
re-programming for design changes
• Considerably lower cost than typical custom gauging
Equator - the versatile gauge
Equator fills a gap in the market never addressed before
Custom gauge - comparator
Very fast, easy to use, can be highly repeatable
Expensive fixtures, difficult & costly to change
Equator - comparator
Fast, low-cost, versatile, re-programmable, intuitive
Designed for the shop-floor, thermally ‘insensitive’
Highly repeatable, manual or automated operation
Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM) - absolute
High accuracy, traceable absolute measurement
Flexible, comprehensive software
Certified in temperature controlled rooms
Equator - the versatile gauge
Measuring process variability
• Custom gauges are expensive…
– significant upfront costs when a
manufacturing line is installed
– substantial ongoing gauge (and fixture)
maintenance costs
– gauging costs often written off over just
one installation
Measuring process variability
• Custom gauges are also unlikely to
be ‘ready to go’ straight out of the
box…
– a kit normally
requires significant
assembly and
commissioning.
Equator - the versatile gauge
• Equator – a unique patented
approach to gauging
• One gauge for many applications
• Thermally ‘insensitive’
• Highly repeatable comparator
• Powerful when used with a CMM to
provide absolute traceability
• Low cost, and re-usable
• Form measurement by scanning
• Plug and Play
Equator, the versatile gauge
Equator - the versatile gauge
Equator - the versatile gauge
£10K –
£100K
Initial cost including fixtures
Installation Maintenance Training
Equator Custom gauge
£17K -
£20K
Typical cost comparison
on the first installation
Total – up to £100K or more
…and Equator is re-usable
A unique approach to gauging
Equator - the versatile gauge
1. Calibrate the master on any CMM
2. Master part measured on Equator
3. Subsequent parts compared to the master part
4. Equator now measures relative to CAD nominals
Measurements are certified through the use of a calibrated master
Comparison uncertainty
± 0.002 mm or better
(immediately after re-mastering)
2
3
1
4 4
Equator - the versatile gauge
Using the Equator Comparator
• Equator placed next to machine tool
• Ruggedised frame for shop-floor use
• Mastering deals with thermal variations
• Parts auto-loaded to Equator
• Automated feed-back of tool offsets
• Master part calibration extends CMM reach
onto the shop-floor
Extremely repeatable
• Repeatability
– The Equator system is highly
repeatable
• Feature measurement
– Equator 300 will return in ‘Measure’
mode using ‘CMM Compare’ a
value for feature size that will lie
within +/- 0.002 mm of the size of
the same feature measured on a
CMM .
Equator - the versatile gauge
Software correction =
mastering
Accuracy
Repeatability
Equator - the versatile gauge
Comparison measurement
• Re-master when temperature
changes
• Quick and simple re-mastering
same as component inspection cycle time
reference part kinematically positioned
• Extension of the CMM on the shop
floor
Each re-mastering step ‘re-calibrates’ the
gauge and zeros the processRe-mastering
• Multiple parts on
one machine
• Switch between
parts in seconds
• Switch fixture
tiles in seconds
• Program new
designs off-line
• Simple fixturing
Versatile gauging
Form measurement by scanning
• SP25 scanning probe
– Comparison works at the data point
level, not at the feature level
– therefore real form information possible
• Non-Cartesian
– ideal for high speed scanning
• High speed motion
– Movement speed 500 mm/s
– Max scanning speed 100mm/s
Versatile gauging
‘Plug & play’ – easy installation
• Out of the box in 10 minutes
– Calibrated comparison measurement
possible in under 20 minutes.
• Single phase power supply
• No air supply needed
• Consignment exchange to reduce
downtime
Versatile gauging
Versatile gauging
Modular system
• Adaptable
– Mounted in any direction
– Easily integrated into
production - available soon
Modular system
• Adaptable
– Mounted in any direction
– Easily integrated into
production - available soon
Versatile gauging
Modular system
• Adaptable
– Mounted in any direction
– Easily integrated into
production - available soon
• Easily scalable
– Leg ‘spacers’ to raise working
envelope
– Larger working envelope
– Different sizes of machines
Versatile gauging
Modular system
• Adapts to evolving needs
– 4th/5th axes
• Future development
– Additional functionality: e.g.
non-contact measurement
Available soon
Versatile gauging
4th and 5th axis – capable of full 4 or 5-axis scanning
Versatile gauging
Parallel kinematicsLightweight, fast, repeatable
The versatile gauge™
3 axis parallel kinematic robot
• 3 drive struts to position XYZ
• Renishaw linear encoders
• Precision spherical pivots produce outstanding drive straightness
Drives
Principle of operation – parallel kinematics
Precision pivots
• Struts pivot at both ends
• Design eliminates bending in
encoded strut
• Struts in pure tension/compression
• Renishaw probing attached directly
to the end of the drive struts
Hooke’s
joint
Principle of operation – parallel kinematics
Rotational constraint mechanismThree rotational degrees of
freedom constrained by 3 sets
of parallelogram linkages
Principle of operation – parallel kinematics
Rotational constraint mechanism
Each linkage pair allows
rotation about two axes
Full rotational constraint
Principle of operation – parallel kinematics
Parallel kinematic
measurement
• Same mass seen by all drives
• Drives matched
• Low moving mass
• High dynamic performance
• Un-transduced inertial bending
effects eliminated
• Optimised platform footprint
The patented parallel kinematic design in Equator enables higher
speed motion and measurement offering real throughput gains over
conventional automated inspection systems
Principle of operation – parallel kinematics
Intuitive softwareGolden and CMM Compare
The versatile gauge™
The intuitive software interface
MODUS™ Organiser
• Image-driven program selection
• PASS / FAIL results
• Re-mastering
• DMIS program runs minimised in
MODUS Gauge
• Storage of master calibration
data
• Program execution, data
storage, data analysis and
reporting
The intuitive software interface
Key process steps
in sequence
Process execution
showing estimated
time remaining
The intuitive software interface
The intuitive software interface
Complete system
ready to go out of
the box
Controller
Single box
solution for
all software
Simplified user interface
The intuitive software interface
Automation optionsOffset updates, robot control
the versatile gauge
Automation options
I/O interface box - robot control
• 16 lines of 24v I/O
• Configured as required
• Connects via USB to Equator Controller
MODUS decision making
• Within MODUS tolerance bands can be set for
pass/fail
• Instructions to robot to load / unload part
• Warning limits can be set in MODUS to alert
operator
Automation options
Process control and automated loading
• Measurement results can be fed back to constantly adjust process
on a few modern CNC controls e.g. Fanuc FOCAS-based
• Machine I/O can be used to control loading systems such as robots
Machine comm.s /
SPC software
(3rd-party software)
Measurement
results
Tool offsets
Robot part loading
I/O box
Machine comms / SPC software
Process control / machine intelligence
• Monitor measurement results for SPC analysis (update MT offsets)
• Example - Auto Comp (Caron Engineering)
Robot / offset update demo at IMTS
IMTS meetings
Show material
Demos to development partners
IMTS meetings
Show material
Demos to development partners
Installations
Extensive trials
• More than 120 Equators installed in customers and Renishaw
plants for active trials
• 45 Equators in active use on customer shop floors
Meyer Tool, Ohio Eponsa, Barcelona
• Unique
• Patented
• Low-cost
• Thermally insensitive
• Versatile
• Re-usable
• Robust
• Intuitive
Nothing compares to Equator
Nothing compares like Equator
The versatile gauge™
Questions?
