Articulated arm
An articulated arm CMM comprises a plurality of transfer members, a plurality of articulation members connecting at least two transfer members to each other, a coordinate acquisition member at a distal end, and a base at a proximal end. At least two of the articulation members can include at least one encoder and the at least two encoders can both be enclosed within a single monoblock housing.
1. An articulated arm CMM comprising:
an articulated arm comprising a plurality of transfer members, a plurality of articulation members connecting at least two transfer members to each other, a coordinate acquisition member at a distal end, and a base at a proximal end;
wherein at least two of the articulation members each comprise at least one encoder and the at least two encoders are both enclosed within a single monoblock housing.
2. The articulated arm CMM of claim 1 wherein the monoblock housing comprises a removable cover portion.
3. The articulated arm CMM of claim 2 wherein the removable cover portion occludes an opening the housing through which an encoder can be inserted into the housing.
4. The articulated arm CMM of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a hinge-receiving portion and a swivel receiving portion.
5. The articulated arm CMM of claim 1 wherein the at least two encoders are configured to detect rotation about at least two axes that are perpendicular to each other.
6. The articulated arm CMM of claim 1 wherein the at least two encoders can be inserted and removed independently.
7. An articulated arm CMM comprising:
an articulated arm comprising a plurality of articulated arm members, a coordinate acquisition member at a distal end, and a base at a proximal end; and
a counterbalance supporting the arm at a rotational point between adjacent articulated arm members;
wherein the counterbalance connects to an articulated arm member closer to the base at a point nearer to the rotational point than to the base.
8. The articulated arm CMM of claim 7 , wherein the counterbalance comprises an integral locking mechanism.
9. The articulated arm CMM of claim 7 , wherein the counterbalance comprises a gas spring counterbalance.
10. The articulated arm CMM of claim 9 , wherein the gas spring counterbalance comprises nitrogen gas.
11. The articulated arm CMM of claim 7 , wherein the counterbalance comprises a lock that can increase a resistance against movement of the counterbalance.
12. The articulated arm CMM of claim 11 , wherein the lock comprises a lever and a pushing pin that can open and close an aperture within the counterbalance, controlling gas flow of a gas spring.
13. An articulated arm CMM comprising:
an articulated arm comprising a plurality of articulated arm members, a coordinate acquisition member at a distal end, and a base at a proximal end; and
a counterbalance supporting the arm at a rotational point between two adjacent articulated arm members;
wherein rotation at the rotational point brings one of the two adjacent articulated arm members to a substantially horizontal position when the counterbalance is also brought to a substantially horizontal position.
14. The articulated arm CMM of claim 13 , wherein the counterbalance comprises an integral locking mechanism.
15. The articulated arm CMM of claim 13 , wherein the counterbalance comprises a lock that can increase a resistance against movement of the counterbalance.