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PI 200-3 product description

System overview

A small deflection of the stylus tip produces a force which is applied via the stylus module and kinematic coupling to the strain sensing structure housed in the probe body. Electronic processing based on a customised, mixed signal integrated circuit and hybrid microcircuit construction contained within the probe converts the sensor responses to a current proportional to strain. The probe output requires only two wires for transmission to the PI 200-3 interface, enabling the TP200 to use the existing M8 mounting connector system fitted to a wide range of probe heads and extension bars.

In the PI 200-3 interface, the probe current is compared with pre-set reference levels to determine the status of the probe, which may be armed (seated) or triggered. The probe status (SYNC) and the trigger confirmation (HALT) signals are asserted when the appropriate conditions are met.

At power-up, or when a probe is first connected, the PI 200-3 recognises whether the probe is a kinematic switching probe (TP20 / TP6 / TP2 type) or a TP200, and automatically selects the appropriate operating mode.

When using the SCR200 change rack to perform automatic stylus changing, the PI 200-3 inhibits probe triggers and resets the TP200 probe sensor to account for the loading effects of the new stylus assembly on the strain sensors. Collision damage is prevented by an overtravel mechanism and a limit switch in the base of the SCR200. A small displacement will cause the PI 200-3 to assert the SYNC, HALT and STOP signals to stop CMM motion.

Probe status signal (SYNC)

SYNC is the real time PICS trigger signal used to trigger recording of the machine scale coordinates when taking a gauge point. SYNC may also initiate the process of stopping and reversing CMM motion (sometimes called ‘back-off') to the pre-hit point.

When the stylus contacts the workpiece, a change of strain occurs in the sensing structure causing the probe current to increase. SYNC is asserted when the probe current exceeds the trigger reference level. When the stylus backs off from the workpiece, the probe current will fall below the trigger reference level and SYNC will be cleared to the armed state.

The timing relationships for an idealised probe signal are indicated later in this document.

A solid state relay (SSR) output is provided which mimics the PICS-SYNC output for connection to older CMM controllers that require voltage-free contacts to simulate the trigger signal of a kinematic switching probe.

Trigger confirmation signal (HALT)

To allow the CMM controller to distinguish between a valid trigger and a spurious trigger caused by vibration or shock, a trigger confirmation signal (HALT) is provided on the PICS port. HALT will be asserted if the probe current remains greater than trigger level 2 for a pre-set delay time, determined by the settings of configuration switches 11 and 12.

Should the probe current fail to reach the trigger level or drop below the reseat level before the delay time has expired, as might be the case for a vibration-induced signal, HALT will not be asserted. The CMM controller may then assume the trigger was spurious and reject the coordinate data.

When a kinematic switching probe (TP20, TP6, TP1, TP2) is connected, the HALT delay time is fixed at 5 milliseconds.

SYNC and HALT signal timing for a TP200 gauge point

PI200 instal guide - figure 2

SYNC and HALT signal timing for a gauge point when a kinematic probe is connected

PI200 instal guide - figure 3

SYNC and HALT debounce

The SYNC and HALT signals are debounced to prevent spurious triggers occurring as a result of CMM or stylus vibration when the stylus makes contact with or leaves the surface of the workpiece. A range of switch selectable timing options is provided to suit the requirements of different types of CMM. Alternatively, the debounce may be switched off to allow greater flexibility for the CMM's controller to manage the PICS signals.

The ‘adaptive' settings ensure that combinations of CMM vibration and large stylus assemblies do not cause a false indication of probe status during the back-off move. It may be seen that the debounce time increases in increments of either 20 milliseconds or 100 milliseconds until the probe signal remains below the trigger level for one complete timing period.

When a kinematic switching probe (TP20, TP6, TP1, TP2) is connected, the debounce times are fixed.

Adaptive debounce

PI200 instal guide - figure 4


Probe damped signal (PDAMP)

During high-speed position moves (fast traverse), it is necessary to reduce probe sensitivity to prevent vibration causing unwanted triggers. The CMM controller must assert the PDAMP signal on the PICS port, to switch the PI 200-3 into the low sensitivity mode known as ‘probe damped'. In this mode, deflection of the stylus will generate SYNC and HALT simultaneously, but only if the probe signal remains above the damped trigger level for longer than the time delay selected by switches 11 and 12.

NOTE: The probe cannot take accurate points when damped mode is active, and the CMM controller must clear the PDAMP signal to return the probe to normal sensitivity before taking a gauge point. It is important that PDAMP is only cleared when vibrations of the CMM and probe stylus have reduced to a sufficiently low level to avoid spurious re-triggering at the end of the position move.

Probe damped mode is indicated by an LED on the PI 200-3 front panel.

SYNC and HALT signal timing for a trigger in damped mode

PI200 instal guide - figure 5

Stylus mass and ambient temperature compensation

In the TP200 probe, a reference strain sensor outside the strain path adjusts the current in the active strain sensors to provide compensation for slow, uniform changes of ambient temperature.

Fine compensation for thermal drift is provided by a system known as ‘autozero' that nulls the sensor amplifiers at a slow rate when the probe is armed. Under the control of the PI 200-3 interface, the autozero automatically switches to a fast rate to reset the probe sensors during a stylus change with the SCR200 change rack or during reorientation of a motorised probe head.

When the probe is in the triggered state, the compensation is switched off. If the stylus remains deflected for longer than ten seconds, drift of the zero reference may occur. The audible warning will sound after this period to indicate that the probe must be reset manually.

RESET button

CAUTION: Probe triggers are inhibited when the RESET button is pressed. Before pressing the button, the CMM must be stationary in manual mode with the probe stylus clear of the workpiece.

The RESET button on the front panel selects fast autozero to rapidly null the sensor amplifiers.

This may be necessary when:

  1. The probe does not arm after manually changing the stylus.
  2. The audible alarm is sounding a continuous tone to warn that the stylus has been deflected for longer than 10 seconds.
NOTE: The probe may also be reset by the action of unlocking and locking the PH10T PLUS or PH10M PLUS motorised head.

Front panel indicators

PI 200-3 front panel indicators

PI 200-3 with enlarged front LED section

Indicator

Colour

Function

POWER ON

Green

Power on

STOP

Red

PICS - STOP asserted

TYPE TP200

Green

TP200 probe selected

TYPE STD

Green

Kinematic probe selected

PROBE SEATED

Green

ON - probe armed (seated)
OFF - probe triggered or no probe connected

PROBE DAMPED

Yellow

PICS - PDAMP asserted

PHC10-3 PLUS front panel indicators

PHC10-3 with enlarged LED section


Indicator

Colour

Function

POWER ON

Green

Power on

STOP

Red

PICS - STOP asserted

HEAD READY

Green

Head ready

HEAD ACTIVE

Amber

Head active

ERROR DATUM

Red

Error datum

ERROR OBSTRUCT

Red

Error obstruct

ERROR O/LOAD

Red

Error o/load

TYPE TP7

Green

TP7 probe selected

TYPE TP200

Green

TP200 probe selected

TYPE STD

Green

TP20 probe selected

PROBE SEATED

Green

ON - probe armed (seated)
OFF - probe triggered or no probe connected

PROBE DAMPED

Yellow

PICS - PDAMP asserted

Audible indicator

The audible indicator has two functions:

The first is to provide a brief indication that a probe trigger has occurred, this function may be disabled by configuration switch 5. The second function is to warn, by a continuous tone, that the stylus has remained deflected for longer than ten seconds. The alarm can be cleared by operation of the RESET button on the front panel.

Rear panel switches and connectors

PI 200-3 and PHC10-3 rear panels

Configuration switches

All switches are hardware controlled and a change to any switch setting is effective immediately.

Configuration switch functions

Switch number

Function

Switch position

Description

1

HALT polarity

UP

DOWN

HALT active HIGH

HALT active LOW

2

Head LED control

UP

DOWN

External control via PICS

LED mimics SYNC

3

STOP disabled

UP

DOWN

PI 200-3 ignores PICS - STOP

STOP asserts HALT/SYNC

4

SYNC polarity

UP

DOWN

SYNC HIGH and SSR closes on trigger

SYNC LOW and SSR opens on trigger

5

Audible indicator

UP

DOWN

No beep on trigger

Indicator beeps on trigger

6

Debounce time

Selects SYNC debounce time

7

Debounce mode

Selects SYNC debounce mode

8

Zero debounce

UP

DOWN

Sets debounce time <2 ms

Debounce set by switches 6 and 7

9

Probe signal filter

UP

DOWN

Filter active

Filter off

10

Trigger level

UP

DOWN

Trigger level 2 selected

Trigger level 1 selected

11

PDAMP / HALT filter delay

Coded to select delay time

12

PDAMP / HALT filter delay

Coded to select delay time

Refer to table 3

13

Probe polarity reversal

UP

DOWN

Reversed

Normal


Switch 1:

Inverts the polarity of the HALT output.

Switch 2:

Selects control of the LEDOFF output to either internal PI 200-3 control according to the status of SYNC, or sets the output to high impedance for control of the head LED by external switching.

Switch 3:

Sets the PI 200-3's response to STOP when asserted from an external source. When enabled, the PI 200-3 will assert SYNC, HALT and open the SSR relay.

Switch 4:

Inverts the polarity of the SYNC and SSR relay outputs.

Switch 5:

When enabled, a tone will sound for approximately 160 milliseconds when the probe triggers and SYNC is asserted. When disabled, the tone will activate only when the stylus has remained deflected for 10 seconds.

Switches 6 and 7:

These switches select the debounce time and mode of operation.

Switch 8:

Overrides the settings of switches 6 and 7, reducing the trigger and reseat debounce times to less than 2 milliseconds.

Switch 9:

The probe signal filter has a 300 μs time constant to reduce the effects of stylus vibration when the stylus makes contact with the workpiece. Renishaw recommends that this switch is set to the UP position for normal use.

SYNC debounce options

PI200 instal guide - figure 8

Switch 10:

In operating situations where there is an unusually high level of background vibration, it may be necessary to reduce the sensitivity of the TP200 to avoid false ‘air' triggers. These may occur on some types of CMM when large steel stylus arrangements are used or where the CMM is inadequately isolated from the floor transmission of vibration from nearby machinery or vehicle traffic.

Trigger level 1

Is the highest sensitivity mode and provides the best measuring performance.

Trigger level 2

Reduces the vibration sensitivity from level 1 for a small loss of measuring accuracy.


CAUTION: All stylus tips must be requalified if the trigger level is changed.

Switches 11 and 12:

To prevent a HALT signal (or HALT and SYNC if probe damped mode is set) from being falsely asserted when the probe is subjected to vibration, a time delay filter is applied.

If a collision occurs at fast traverse speed (i.e. a position move), the filter delay time will incur additional CMM overtravel before motion stops. It is important that the CMM motion can stop within the available overtravel, particularly if collisions can occur directly along the main axis of the probe in the +Z direction. To minimise the overtravel in a collision situation, the filter delay time must be set to the shortest possible time that will prevent ‘air' triggers from occurring during fast traverse moves when probe damped mode is asserted.

Switches 11 and 12 are used to select the nominal filter times.

Function of switches 11 and 12:

Time delay
Switch 11
Switch 12
2 ms
DOWN
DOWN
7.5 ms
DOWN
UP
15 ms
UP
DOWN
50 ms
UP
UP

Switch 13:

Correct polarity
Down
Inverted polarityUP

The TP200 probe is polarity sensitive and must be connected to the PI 200-3 such that the centre contact of the M8 connector is positive and the thread is ground (0 V). A reversed polarity connection will cause the POWER and STOP indicators to be illuminated on the front panel.

Sliding the switch to the REV position should allow normal operation. Incorrect setting of the polarity switch should not damage the probe.

When the PI 200-3 is added to the PHC10-3 PLUS, the STOP light will flash at approximately 3 Hz. All PI 200-3 interface LEDs should be OFF.