Patent ID: 6606539
Filing Date: 2003-08-12
Classification: B25J,G01B,G05B

Abstract:
A portable three dimensional coordinate measurement machine for measuring the position of an object in a selected volume comprising:a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of arm sections interconnected by joints whereby said arm sections and said joints together provide at least six degrees of freedom within a selected volume, said articulated arm further including at least six position transducers, each of which produce a position signal; said articulated arm further including a plurality of bearing arrangements, each of said bearing arrangements comprising at least a pair of spaced bearings, said pair of spaced bearings being preloaded such that, under an applied load, any motion of said arm is limited to axial motion and wherein said preloaded bearings increase mechanical stability of said articulated arm; a measurement probe attached to a first end of said articulated arm; an electronic circuit which receives the position signals from the transducers and provides a digital coordinate corresponding to the position of the probe in a selected volume.