optical measurement of straightness, etc.
Posted by
Multi-Volti Devices (Murray)
on 2002-01-08 22:38:44 UTC
Maybe a laser interferometer...they can measure distance and alignment to
microscopic accuracy, actually to the order of magnitude of wavelengths of
light by measuring optical interference. In school I heard a story about an
old guy at Ford Motor Co. many years ago who had door alignment on new cars
off the assembly line down to an artform...he'd carefully eye the door
motion trajectory, insert his rubber mallet in just the right place between
the door and the door jamb and slam the door on the mallet and recheck the
door - it supposedly only took him 1-2 tries. That process eventually was
replaced with laser interferometers.
Where to get one or rent one? ...I guess check Yellow Pages under lasers?
Spectra Precision used to make a wide variety of laser
instrumentation...locally at least their name is something different
now...Trimble I think (Grand Rapids Michigan). I don't know if this is
Spectra Precision's new name or the local rep's.
Murray
microscopic accuracy, actually to the order of magnitude of wavelengths of
light by measuring optical interference. In school I heard a story about an
old guy at Ford Motor Co. many years ago who had door alignment on new cars
off the assembly line down to an artform...he'd carefully eye the door
motion trajectory, insert his rubber mallet in just the right place between
the door and the door jamb and slam the door on the mallet and recheck the
door - it supposedly only took him 1-2 tries. That process eventually was
replaced with laser interferometers.
Where to get one or rent one? ...I guess check Yellow Pages under lasers?
Spectra Precision used to make a wide variety of laser
instrumentation...locally at least their name is something different
now...Trimble I think (Grand Rapids Michigan). I don't know if this is
Spectra Precision's new name or the local rep's.
Murray