Some workpieces, such as thin sheet metal, must not be contacted or moved, but are also too large and heavy for rotary axes. In such cases, a multisensor capable rotary/tilt head is needed for measurement on both sides. The WRT can handle higher loads than conventional rotary/tilt heads and is therefore suitable for a wide range of sensors. For example, it can be used on coordinate measuring machines with a fixed bridge or on the VideoCheck® S with up to three independent sensor axes.
The WRT enables measurements in any probing direction both with conventional scanning probes and, for example, with the Chromatic Focus Point optical distance sensor. The limiting angles for capturing the light reflected from the workpiece surface, which are specified by the numerical aperture of the lens, and the resulting limitations for the surface angularity are eliminated. Combined measurements in several tilt positions allow, for example, very steep flanks to be measured.
Higher accuracy and better accessibility
For the scanning probe, e.g., the eccentric probe mounting results in a smaller distance between the tilt axis and the stylus tip, and thus a smaller tilt path when measuring a complex workpiece. This improves the accuracy, since the length measurement error of the machines increases with the measuring length, mainly due to temperature.
Another benefit over conventional rotary/tilt heads is the infinitely variable adjustment range for rotation and tilting, which offers better measuring object and element accessibility. The eccentric arrangement of the tilt axis also results in a larger usable measuring range.
Fuel cells are one application example: A vertical setup of the bipolar plate enables the measurement of wall thickness, mold center offset and weld center offset. The geometry of the flow field can be captured at the half plates. Other areas of application include the measurement of cylinder-head gaskets, turbine blades or protective glass for dashboards.
