Maximise your machines

The new probe works via a ‘head touch' method for rapid touch-trigger measurement, offering fast, infinite 5-axis positioning to guarantee optimal feature access in a compact design. Suitable for new CMM installations or as a retrofit to most existing machines, the PH20 also offers adaptive positioning to accommodate part misalignment, fast calibration routines, and an integral TP20 probe mount designed to optimise working volume, bringing 5-axis capability to smaller machines. By incorporating the industry standard TP20 touch-trigger probe, users of the PH20 have immediate access to a range of proven modules, providing a wide selection of trigger forces, directional sensing options and extensions to meet application requirements. The modules are detachable for crash protection and can be automatically changed using the MCR20 change rack. Brian Gow, Renishaw's CMM marketing manager says: “Like Revo, PH20 minimises CMM motion, therefore reducing dynamic CMM errors, and its rapid ‘head touches' mean measurement points are taken much faster using only the rotary motion of the head. The result is improved accuracy, repeatability, and significantly improved inspection throughput, with parts measured up to three times faster than current touch-trigger systems.” These dramatic time savings are achieved using a rapid ‘inferred calibration' technique which determines head orientation and probe position in a single operation, allowing subsequent measurement at any head angle.
The PH20 is of course, only one aspect of Renishaw's presence, at the show will also be a chance for visitors to explore its new systems for assessing the performance of both 3- and 5-axis machine tools, plus products that increase machine tool automation, improve process control and allow advanced on-machine part verification. For visitors sourcing offline measurement products, there will also be Renishaw's new retrofit service for CMMs, including Modus, the company's first metrology software package. There will also be a range of new motion control products, including a new 1nm resolution incremental encoder, and an absolute optical encoder for rotary and linear applications that is capable of 10 atom resolution at 220mph. First up in its product offering is a range of new touch probe system that use frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) probe signal radio transmission technology to allow automated job set-up and in-process measurement on all sizes of CNC machine. The new, compact RMP40 probe is especially suited to multi-axis and mill/turn applications, whilst its variant, the RLP40 touch probe, is specifically designed for more hostile turning environments. A transmission only module RMP40M is also being introduced. Next, Renishaw promises that measurement on multi-axis machine tools is set to take a leap forward with a new version of its Productivity+ suite of PC-based probing software. One main improvement is a new multi-axis option that allows greater creativity and efficiency in machining processes, which supported by Renishaw's high accuracy Rengage 3D technology-based touch probes and new ultra-compact radio probes, gives process engineers and machinists a wide choice of flexible process solutions. A successor to Renishaw's well established QC10 ballbar system will also be on show. Designated the QC20-W, this is a completely new design featuring a linear sensor developed in-house and Bluetooth wireless technology, which also allows testing in three orthogonal planes through a single reference point. A single, simple hardware set up also means quicker testing and the ability to produce a representative volumetric measurement of positioning accuracy. Extending its range of machine tool testing and calibration systems, AxiSet Check-Up offers a cost-effective solution for checking the alignment and positioning performance of rotary axes. In a matter of minutes, users of 5-axis machining centres and multi-tasking mill/turn machines can now identify and report on poor machine alignments and geometries that can cause extended process setting times, as well as non-conforming parts. Renishaw will also address the issues faced by manufacturers who are suffering from inspection bottlenecks that tie up staff and expensive machines whilst waiting for vital measurement results by offering cost-effective CMM retrofits for all budgets and applications. From touch trigger probing and 3-axis scanning, through to the latest Revo 5-axis measurement system, the company offers a complete upgrade solution. Another new product, Resolute, is a true, absolute optical encoder system that promises excellent dirt immunity and an impressive specification in position feedback. Claimed to be the world's first absolute encoder capable of 27-bit resolution at 36,000rpm, the system can yield a resolution of just 1nm at 100m/s for both linear encoder and angle encoder applications. Absolute position is acquired immediately at system switch-on, so the exact orientation of axis and motor commutation angle are known without the need for a reference return. Finally, visitors will also be able to see additions to the TONiC range of incremental optical linear and rotary encoders, including 1nm and 2nm resolutions, a dual output encoder interface, and compatibility with Renishaw's Dual Signal Interface (DSi) for high accuracy angle encoding. Renishaw
www.renishaw.com
Hall 5, Stand 5439