This invention relates to a machining center including a machine tool and a three-dimensional measuring machine. The machining center machines a workpiece and then measures the shape of the machined workpiece. The measuring machine includes a probe unit for measuring the shape of the machined workpiece on a table of the machining center. For effecting measurement, relative motion between the probe unit and the machined workpiece is achieved by the first to third drive means.
Interferometer 14 is equipped with a light directing mechanism part for causing the incoming laser beam to be reflected in the x, y, and z axis directions and a switching mechanism for the light directing mechanism part. Computer 20 provides driving commands sequentially to the NC controller 22 in accordance with the contents of a measurement program to thereby operate milling machine A in accordance with a prescribed procedure, calculates correction data by comparing the length measurement data, obtained at the laser head 12, with reference data, causes the correction value to be taken into the NC controller 22, and starts up the controller 24 and operates the switching mechanism of the multiaxis interferometer 14 after the end of work for each axis to change the axial direction measured.
Interferometer 14 is equipped with a beam directing mechanism portion for causing the incoming laser beam to be reflected in the x, y, and z axis directions and a switching mechanism for the beam directing mechanism portion. Computer 20 provides driving commands sequentially to NC controller 22 in accordance with the contents of a measurement program to thereby operate milling machine A in accordance with a prescribed procedure, calculates correction data by comparing the distance measurement data, obtained at the beam source portion 12, with reference data, causes the correction value to be taken into NC controller 22, and starts up controller 24 and operates the switching mechanism of the multiaxis interferometer 14 after the end of work for each axis to change the axial direction measured.
A composite interferometer system has a plurality of X and/or Y measuring axes which co-operate with an X and/or Y measuring mirror arranged on an object. The interferometer system also has at least one Z measuring axis, which extends partly in an XY plane and co-operates with Z measuring mirrors arranged on the object and Z reflectors. Thus, a larger number of more accurate and reliable measurements can be performed with the interferometer system.
A multiaxis distance measuring device is provided that includes a multiaxis interferometer 14 includes a rectangular box-shaped housing 30, a mounting base 32 disposed within the housing 30, a stage 38 set in a parallelly movable manner via slider 36, and an interferometer body 42 set on the stage 38 via mounting block 40. Interferometer body 42 is partitioned into parts A, B, C, and D, which have as an optical part in common, a polarization beam splitter 68, which is disposed along the longitudinal direction of stage 38 with its lower side facing a laser entrance hole 62 and its upper side face facing a laser exit hole 64. Part A is provided with only a 1/4 wave plate 70. Part B is provided with a pentagonal prism 72 and a 1/4 wave plate 70 so that its light emission direction is pointed downwards. Part C is provided with a pentagonal prism 72 and a 1/4 wave plate 70 so that its light emission direction is pointed upwards, while part D is provided with a pentagonal prism 72 and a 1/4 wave plate 70 so that its light emission direction is pointed to the side. The device advantageously requires only a single alignment between the optical axis of the multiaxis interferometer 14 and the reflecting target and can measure distances in at least two orthogonal directions.
A numerically controlled milling machine is used to mill the surface of a coined spinnerette after punching and before broaching the holes in the spinnerette. A probe is mounted on the milling machine to obtain data points on the bumpy surface of the coined spinnerette. The low points in predetermined areas off of the protuberances on the bumpy surface of the coined spinnerette are detected. Splines connecting the low points in, e.g., concentric rings if the holes in the finished spinnerette will be in rings, are used to generate a representation of the finished surface. A spiral tool path is obtained using the representation of the finished surface and G-codes are generated to control the milling machine to move a tool along the tool path. After the coined spinnerette has been milled, conventional finishing, including broaching is performed.
