Patent ID: 8437978
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. Dimensional measurement apparatus for use with a machine tool or co-ordinate measuring machine, comprising: a measurement probe and a probe interface, the measurement probe comprising a measurement portion for acquiring object position measurements, the measurement portion comprising a deflectable stylus and a stylus deflection measurement mechanism; the probe interface comprising an output portion, a deactivation portion and an apparatus usage module; wherein the output portion is configured to measurement data relating to the acquired object position measurements to a machine controller of the machine tool or co-ordinate measuring machine, the machine controller using measurement data received from the output portion in combination with machine position information to measure a dimension of an object; wherein the deactivation portion is configured, in use, to reads apparatus usage information from the apparatus usage module and inhibits normal operation of the dimensional measurement apparatus if said apparatus usage information fails to meet one or more predetermined criteria, the apparatus usage information providing a measure of the amount of probe interface usage, the apparatus usage module is integrated within the probe interface and includes an internal memory that stores said apparatus usage information, and the measurement apparatus can be interfaced with an associated unit, the associated unit allowing the apparatus usage information stored in the internal memory of the apparatus usage module to be refreshed.