A High-Accuracy Computer-Aided Profile-Measuring Machine

This paper describes a system for the high-precision, rapid measurement and evaluation of rotatable object profiles such as cam's. The data are acquired off-line by sampling with a high-resolution optical encoder and are recorded on magnetic tape via an incremental recorder. The recorded data are subsequently analyzed by a computer program to provide the required parameters. The system is characterized by ease of operation, high precision, repeatability, and relative simplicity. It makes available an automated measurement capability that was previously only possible by manual methods on an optical lathe or a measuring engine.