Probing system of the measuring machine is made up of measuring head, measuring probe and measuring styli. The measuring probe is a device to transmit the signal in measuring, which may output the switch signal or transmit the proportion signal positively proportional to the styli deflection angle. It is the key component of the measuring machine. To some extent, the probe precision determines the measuring repeatability and precision of measuring machine. Different parts should be measured with different probes.

1、Categorization of probes

◆ Trigger probe: trigger probe is also called switching probe. Its main task is to probe the parts and transmit the locking signal to real time lock the coordinate values of the coordinate points on the surface of the measured parts. Usually, the trigger probe sends the jumping square wave electric signal and uses the front edge jump of electric signal as locking signal. Due to the front edge signal being steep and usually on the microsecond level, the real time locking of coordinate values is ensured.

◆ Scanning probe: it is also called proportion probe or simulation probe. This probe not only can be used as trigger probe but also transmit the signal positively proportional to the styli deflection (simulation voltage or digital signal). Meanwhile, the computer will read the styli deflection signal and coordinate signal of machine (lock the coordinate values of measured surface when used as trigger probe) to ensure acquire coordinate values of measured points in real time. The probing rate is greatly improved due to no reciprocal movement of machine upon probing. During the measurement of discrete points by scanning probe, it is more applicable to the measurement of cambered surface because the 3D movement of styli can determine the wave vector direction of the surface where the point is being measured.

◆ Contact probe and non-contact probe：

Contact probe: it refers to probing system that should actually contact with the measured surface.

Non-contact probe: it refers to the probing system that does not need to contact with the measured surface such as optical probing system, laser scanning probing system.

2、Graduation measuring head

◆ Manual rotating head integrated with probe

Features: basic type, economic measuring head and probe system. The built-in probe can be located manually to finish the measurement of all the features within the space.

◆ Manual graduation measuring head integrated with probe

The integrated probe and head system with two degrees of freedom allows to manually locate the built-in probe according to the preset repeatability graduation within the space to improve the flexibility of manual and motored machine.

◆ Automatic graduation measuring head

Features: The measuring head with two degrees of freedom can automatically locate the probe with good repeatability within the space and allows to automatically change the measuring sensors and the probe does not need to be recalibrated after rotation. Hence, the most proper measuring angle can be selected according to the workpiece surface.

3、Probe

◆ Point to point trigger probe

Features: The widely-used trigger electronic probe can complete the measuring task with high speed. It can serve long with high precision. It can operate with low costs and subject to the low limitations of measuring volume. It is suitable for the measurement of 3D box type workpiece.

◆ Graduation changeable scanning probe

Features: high precision fast speed scanning probe can finish the reliable measurement of box type parts and contours and curved surface by acquiring a large quantity of data points. It can be installed on the graduation measuring head and can be exchanged with other probes. It is used to measure the geometric factors, complex shapes and contours including complete description for the geometric features such as dimensions, positions and shapes etc.

◆ Fixed scanning probe

Features: Extremely high precision scanning head can transmit data information to the machine continuously. It is installed on the Z column of machine and also can be equipped with lengthened staff to finish measuring for deep features. Due to its high measuring precision, it is widely used to test the shape errors, complex geometrics and contours including dimensions, positions and shapes.

◆ Non-contact optical probe

Features: judge characteristics types generated by the shadow and reflecting light on the optical devices (contour grey value); manually align or automatically send the locking signal while the locking should be vertical to the 2d coordinate in optical axis direction to finish the amplified measuring for the small size features, especially for the small features on the large workpiece.

◆ Non-contact laser scanning probe

Features: the non-contact laser scanning probe adopts the triangular measuring method and the 2D coordinates vertical to the probe direction will be given by machine. The optical axis directional dimensions will be given by the probing axis according to the triangle principle to get the large quantity of data point cloud for the workpiece surface in the shortest time.

Application: it could not only finish the digital measuring to realize the application of reverse engineering but also finish the CAD comparative measurement and analysis for complex geometric shapes and factors.

4、Styli

It is installed on the measuring head and contact the measured part. It is usually made up of measuring staff and ruby ball.Its different shapes and specifications will ensure the probe could measure all the features of workpiece freely.

5 、Accessories

◆ Lengthened staff: the styli with lengthened staff will be able to measure the deeper position features.

◆ Probe changer: it can change combination of the probe, lengthened staff and styli quickly and repeatedly. It can finish fully automatic measuring on the different workpieces under the same measuring system.