Measuring large 3D structures using four portable tracking laser interferometers

A new concept that allows measuring 1D–3D objects in the range of several centimeters to 5 m × 5 m × 5 m is presented. In general terms the concept can be seen as a task specific correction of geometrical errors of coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). The developed system comprises a commercial CMM, its measurement and its evaluation software and a set of at least four high accurate tracking laser interferometers. The CMM is simply used as a mover which allows to capture points on the surface of a measuring object. In parallel the tracking laser interferometers follow a retro-reflector located close to the stylus tip of the tactile probe of the CMM. Based on a multi-lateration algorithm 3D-positions are calculated from the measured interferometric distances. Finally, two sets of coordinates emerged, namely, one by the CMM and the second from the metrological frame of the tracking laser interferometers. The interferometrically measured positions are usually more precise than the positions measured by the CMM. This is due to the high accuracy of the interferometric system and also due to the fact that the measurement positions are taken in a manner which almost avoids Abbe errors. Because of that, the measurement positions of the CMM are substituted with the more accurate measurement points calculated from distance measurements of the tracking interferometers. The position coordinates thus obtained are used for the further computerized evaluations, which yield the geometric parameters of the object measured. First measurements under laboratory condition show very promising results. It has been demonstrated that the concept is suitable for the high precision calibration of large workpieces with small tolerances, for instance, for the calibration of large gears for the windmill industry.