Wilhelmus G Weekers

7059063, Jun 13, 2006

Dec 8, 2004

11/007689

Wilhelmus Godefridus Weekers - East Greenwich RI, US
Jens Hupkau - Ashaway RI, US
David W. Payette - East Greenwich RI, US

Hexagon Metrology AB - Stockholm

G01B 5/008

33702, 33704, 33503

A machine, such as a coordinate measuring machine, having an element and a structure movable with respect to each other along rails, wherein the rails have a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the structure to which they are attached. In one embodiment, a bar is disposed on the structure opposite the rails. This bar has a coefficient of thermal expansion, a stiffness, a spacing from the neutral axis of the structure, and a cross-sectional dimension such that the bar balances any thermal stresses in the structure caused by differential expansion or contraction of the structure and the rails with temperature changes to minimize any bending of the structure. In one embodiment, two rails are disposed on a beam, and a carriage travels on the two rails. For each rail, there is an associated bar disposed on an opposite surface of the beam. In another aspect, a pin extends into an elongated slot on a slide associated with the structure to allow the structure to expand and contact.

7191541, Mar 20, 2007

Dec 6, 2005

11/294784

Wilhelmus Godefridus Weekers - East Greenwich RI, US
Jens Hupkau - Ashaway RI, US
David W. Payette - East Greenwich RI, US
John Langlais - Coventry RI, US

Hexagon Metrology AB - Stockholm

G01B 5/008

33702, 33503

A machine, such as a coordinate measuring machine, having a component or element movable with respect to a support structure along rails or guideways, wherein the rails have a coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from that of the support structure to which they are attached. Differential thermal expansion and contraction of the rails with respect to the support structure may be accommodated without binding or distortion of the rails by coupling each guideway to the support structure at two different points. Typically, the coupling at the first point is rigid and prevents any movement of the rail with respect to the support structure. The second coupling includes a flexible component that permits movement of the rail with respect to the support structure in a direction of movement of the element or component. This flexible component may be a leaf spring. In another embodiment, the first coupling may also be flexible.

8352212, Jan 8, 2013

Nov 18, 2009

12/621002

William Fetter - St. Charles IL, US
Eric John Bennett - Fond du Lac WI, US
Wilhelmus Weekers - East Greenwich RI, US
Gary W. Russell - East Greenwich RI, US

Hexagon Metrology, Inc. - North Kingstown RI

G01B 5/008

702152, 33503, 700258

A manipulable aid which is separate and distinct from the probe of a CMM permits a CMM operator to more directly interact with a CMM measurement volume to align a workpiece, configure a measurement path, and/or program a dimensional metrology application.

20120151988, Jun 21, 2012

Dec 14, 2011

13/325984

Wilhelmus Weekers - East Greenwich RI, US
John Langlais - Coventry RI, US
David Harvey - West Greenwich RI, US
Peter Hicks - Wyoming RI, US

Hexagon Metrology, Inc. - North Kingstown RI

G01B 21/00

73 179

A calibration artifact includes an elongated body made substantially entirely of ceramic material and having a direction of elongation. A plurality of measurement elements comprising the ceramic material are integrally formed with the elongated body, each measurement element comprising a first planar measurement surface facing in a first direction. The first planar measurement surface of each measurement element is parallel to the first planar measurement surface of each of the other measurement elements of the plurality of measurement elements. The calibration artifact may be a unitary step gauge formed with a single piece of ceramic material.

6829838, Dec 14, 2004

Sep 9, 2003

10/657903

Wilhelmus Godefridus Weekers - East Greenwich RI
Jens Hupkau - Ashaway RI
David W. Payette - East Greenwich RI

Hexagon Metrology AB - Stockholm

G01B 5008

33702, 33503, 33704

A machine, such as a coordinate measuring machine, having an element and a structure movable with respect to each other along rails, wherein the rails have a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the structure to which they are attached. In one embodiment, a bar is disposed on the structure opposite the rails. This bar has a coefficient of thermal expansion, a stiffness, a spacing from the neutral axis of the structure, and a cross-sectional dimension such that the bar balances any thermal stresses in the structure caused by differential expansion or contraction of the structure and the rails with temperature changes to minimize any bending of the structure. In one embodiment, two rails are disposed on a beam, and a carriage travels on the two rails. For each rail, there is an associated bar disposed on an opposite surface of the beam. In another aspect, a pin extends into an elongated slot on a slide associated with the structure to allow the structure to expand and contact.