Patent ID: 7779553
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. A method for scanning a surface of a workpiece using a scanning probe mounted on a support on a coordinate measuring machine, said support containing one or more drive actuators for actuating the movement of said scanning probe relatively to said support, a control unit coupled to the drive actuators, and a memory for storing theoretical profiles and coordinates of said surface, said method comprising the steps of: (i) determining a first range of values for a contact force applied between the tip of said scanning probe and said surface; (ii) operating said drive actuators to position said tip in contact with said surface; (iii) operating said coordinate measuring machine to move the support along a determined trajectory; and (iv) operating said drive actuators to produce, simultaneously with the relative movement of the support with respect to the surface, movements of said scanning probe relative to the support; whereby said control unit adjust the actuation of the drive actuators along a scanning path in order to maintain said contact force within said first range of values during the whole scanning operation along said scanning path.