In-process diameter measurement gage

Abstract

An In-Process Diameter Gage comprises a Position Detection Subsystem, preferably an optical switch and trigger, a Dimension Measurement Subsystem, preferably comprising a wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder, and a Data Processing Subsystem, all configured and arranged to determine a dimensional property of a rotating part, such as diameter.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising,
 a rotation detection subsystem configured to detect rotation of a part;   a transmitter configured to transmit a signal representative of rotation of the part;   a dimension measurement subsystem configured to contact the rotating part, and to generate data representative of a dimensional property of the part;   a communication component configured to receive a signal from the rotation detection subsystem, and to transmit data representative of the dimensional property; and   a data processing subsystem configured to receive the transmitted data, and to determine and display a value of the dimensional property.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the signal representative of rotation of the part has consistent latency. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the dimensional property of the part is diameter. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the dimension measurement subsystem comprises a contact wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder configured to generate a plurality of signals for each complete revolution of the wheel. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the rotation detector subsystem comprises an optical switch with a field of view, and a trigger that rotates in time with the part into and out of the field of view once every revolution of the part. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the data generated by the dimensional measurement subsystem comprises a total number of signals for at least one revolution of the part. 
     
     
         27 . The measurement system of claim  62 , wherein the data generated by the dimension measurement subsystem comprises a total number of signals for at least 4 to 10 revolutions of the part. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the data processing subsystem is configured to determine diameter run out of the part. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the part rotates at a speed of between about 50 SFM and about 400 SFM. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the property is taper. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the contact wheel is biased against the part with a force between about 7 lbf and about 9 lbf. 
     
     
         32 . A method, comprising:
 rotating part from which a dimensional measurement is required;   generating a signal representative of when the rotating part completes a revolution;   contacting a measurement device with a location on the rotating part to be measured;   biasing measurement device against the rotating part with a predetermined force;   generating a signal for each incremental revolution of the part, so that a plurality of signals are generated for each complete revolution of the part;   generating data representative of the number of plurality of signals generated for at least one complete revolution of the part;   determining a dimensional property of the rotating part; and   displaying the dimensional property.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising transmitting the signal representative of part revolution to the measurement device with consistent latency. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the dimensional property of the part is diameter. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the measurement device comprises a contact wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder configured to generate a plurality of signals for each revolution of the wheel. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein generating a signal representative of when the rotating part completes a revolution comprises an optical switch with a field of view, and a trigger that rotates in time with the part into and out of the field of view once every revolution of the part. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the data representative of the number of plurality of signals generated by the wheel comprises a total number of signals for at least 4 to 10 revolutions of the part. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising determining a diameter run out of the part. The method of  claim 33 , wherein the part rotates at a speed of between about 50 SFM and about 400 SFM. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the biasing force is between about 7 lbf and about 9 lbf.