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Purring motors thanks to first class measurement technology

Wordwide first microsensor for three-dimensional structures smaller than one tenth of a millimeter – Cooperation of PTB and industry

18.12.2008

When the car purrs smoothly and brings us reliably to the Christmas party in these days, it is due to the interaction between, in part, most minute parts in the motor - included here are, for example, the injector nozzle with a diameter of approx. one tenth of a millimeter. In production, one thousandth of a milli-meter is crucial for faultless operation. It is only possible to measure such min-ute dimensions in coordinate measuring machines with special microsensors which can be best developed when research and industry work closely together. A microsensor for two-dimensional structures has already been developed sev-eral years ago in a cooperation between the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesan-stalt (PTB) and the Werth-Messtechnik GmbH and is used today in industry in large numbers. After many years of work, a microsensor has now been devel-oped that can tactilely scan three-dimensional structures on microcomponents which are smaller than one tenth of a millimeter - so far, a unique development worldwide.

Fasertaster mit Bemaßung: Das Kamerabild des 3D-Fasertasters zeigt die Tastspitze als leuchtenden Punkt innerhalb einer Bohrung. Die Tastkugel hat mit 60 Mikrometern in etwa den Durchmesser eines Haares.

Fasertaster mit Zahnrad: In der Mitte des Bildes ist der gebogene Fasertaster mit der kugelförmigen Spitze zu sehen. In der Detailansicht lässt sich gut erkennen, wie die Tastkugel die Flanken eines Mikrozahnrades abtastet, das im Durchmesser nicht einmal einen halben Millimeter misst.

PTB-contact
Dr. Frank Härtig, Department 5.3 Coordinate Metrology,
phone ++49 (531) 592-5300,
E-Mail: frank.haertig(at)ptb.de

Dr. Ulrich Neuschaefer-Rube, Working Group 5.34 Multisensor Metrology,
phone ++49 (531) 592-5311,
E-Mail: ulrich.neuschaefer-rube(at)ptb.de