Transducer-Actuator Systems for On-Machine Measurements and Automatic Part Alignment

When performing machine tool setup and maintenance operations, it is frequently necessary to use a position transducer to “sweep” a surface and establish its relationship to a machine. A machine operator or maintenance technician typically attaches a position indicator to one portion of a machine, and then sweeps the position transducer over the object of interest, while observing the indicator run-out. If necessary, multiple adjustments and re-checks are made to the position of the object to obtain the desired alignment condition.