A numerical simulation of the beam is then carried out by dividing it up into a number of finite rays. Simulation of the beam starts with simulation of an individual ray. Using beam alignment for self-calibration. Recombining it with the reference beam to the detector as shown in Figure 1.įigure 4. Quarter wave plates firstĭirect the measurement beam to one sphere and then to the other sphere before This splits the beam into two paths: the reference path, which continuesĭirectly into a photodetector and the measurement path. Lens and a polarizing wave plate, onto a polarization dependent beam splitter. The laser is directed through a collimating The laser path is contained in a tube,Īllowing environmental parameters to be controlled and measured. AMS uses laser interferometers to measure theĭistances between pairs of steel spheres.
Has been proposed as a way to measure within factory environments without beingĪffected by the environment in the way that current laser tracker and With these specifications requires measurement uncertainties of the order ofĥ0µm over 20m and 4µm over 4m, respectively.Ībsolute multilateration between spheres (AMS) Less than 40µm to achieve component interchange ability. Than 0.5mm to achieve natural laminar flow and feature positions tolerances of Generation of aerospace structures will require surface profile tolerances of less Measurements over the 25m length of a wing by approximately 0.3mm. Gradients of 1☌/m distort laser straightness and optical triangulation With large temperature variations and line-of-sight obstructions. Measuring at the required accuracy is a bigĬhallenge for aerospace manufacturers, who must operate in factory environments Provided a really useful and intuitive way to validate the ray path models. Geometric constraint-based sketches in SOLIDWORKS Key to evaluating theįeasibility of the system was simulating the laser ray path and beam dispersion Novel interferometer system with the University of Oxford, the University of BathĪnd the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
I recently worked on a project to design a