Software gives streaming data on machine dynamics

Used with ML10 laser calibration system, QuickView software permits engineers to study minute variations in linear or angular displacements, velocities, or accelerations in machines and mechanical devices. Graphic interface allows flexible point and measure operation, while oscilloscope-type display options, combined with inherent low noise of ML10 laser, permit users to see features on screen down to 1 nm (linear) or 0.01 arc/sec (angular) resolution.

********************

QuickView(TM) software package gives streaming data on machine dynamics, while delivering superior performance and cost-effectiveness to accelerometers and laser vibrometers

June 2005 - Renishaw extends the motion analysis capabilities of its ML10 laser calibration system to give engineers continuous "streaming" data on machine dynamics, viewable on a live oscilloscope-type display. A new, simple-to-use and intuitive software package, QuickView(TM) enables real-time, high-resolution motion analysis of linear or angular positioning accuracy, velocities or accelerations. Essentially, Renishaw has combined the superb accuracy and resolution of its interferometer system with the ease of use of a conventional oscilloscope. The flexible analytical software makes the ML10, universally used for machine tool calibration, into a powerful, cost-effective tool for engineering, research and academic institutions.

Just as electronic engineers rely on oscilloscopes to study high-speed variations in voltage or current, QuickView software permits mechanical engineers to study minute variations in linear or angular displacements, velocities, or accelerations in all kinds of machines and mechanical devices. Applications include everything from miniaturized, high-speed stages in the electronics and biotechnology fields to transducers, actuators, machine tools, measuring machines, and many kinds and sizes of multi-axis motion systems. The ML10 interferometer with QuickView software provides a cost-effective alternative to accelerometers and vibrometers, plus the superior accuracy of true differential measurement.
Advertisement

QuickView's simple, graphic interface allows flexible "point and measure" operation, avoiding the need for predefined measurement targets and sequences. Display options, combined with inherent low noise of the ML10 laser, permit users to see features on the screen down to 1 nm (linear) or 0.01 arc/sec (angular) resolution.

Functionalities of the versatile software include:

o Live data display in oscilloscope-style format

o Three modes of data capture: free running, single shot trigger and multi-shot trigger

o Easily exportable CSV data format allows detailed off-line analysis

o Cursors for measurement of amplitude, time and frequency

o Linear, angular and straightness measurement options

o Distance, velocity and acceleration display modes

o Pan and zoom function allowing 'close up' analysis of selected data

Running on Windows[R] XP, QuickView software reads the laser data at 5Khz and displays the result as a position-vs.-time trace on the screen in real time. Conventional time-base and gain controls enable adjustment of the time-base (x-axis) from 10 ms to 20 seconds and the position axis from 100 nm to 5 m.

Additional on-screen buttons allow selection of AC or DC coupling and a range of low-pass filters with response times of 0 ms, 2 ms, 5 ms, and 10 ms. AC coupling is especially useful when measuring vibration, enabling any slow drift in position (due to thermal expansion, for example) to be rejected.

The QuickView software has the ability (unlike a conventional oscilloscope) to differentiate incoming data to obtain velocity or acceleration versus time traces. Velocities are obtained by calculating the differences between adjacent laser position readings, while accelerations are computed from the difference between adjacent laser velocity readings. The ML 10's low-pass filters are especially useful in removing noise from velocity and acceleration traces.

Compared to an accelerometer, the Renishaw interferometer system provides superior linear and angular accuracies for assessing dynamic positioning performance and repeatability. Linear position data, for example, is accurate to [+ or -]0.7 ppm (e.g. [+ or -]0.7 [micro]m over a 1 meter move).

The QuickView software is designed for use with Renishaw's new DX10 interface which connects the laser and environmental compensator to the PC via an industry standard USB connection. The DX10 replaces the older PCMCIA (laptop) or ISA (desktop) interfaces, and is compatible with the established Renishaw "Laser 10" laser measurement and capture software package.