[CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Real-Time measurement

I like tossing out an idea every now and then so I can get battered and
bruised by the list members :) I guess I just like the abuse.

So here is the idea or really more of a question.

Is there any (Cost Effective?) way to measure the current location of the
cutter? By this I'm thinking of something like a laser based triangulated
3d location sensing system that could very accurately determine the location
of the machine (and or the cutter). A system based on this concept could
accurately adjust for inaccuracies in the location in real-time. It seems
that an incredible amount of time and effort is put into building machines
that have the precision built in at the component level, but as several
others have pointed out this is something of a pipe dream as the machines
will automatically lose accuracy as they wear and subtle differences like
air pressure and temperature can effect both the machines as well as the
material being cut. This real time measurement seems much more feasible and
would allow you to build machines of substantially lower cost parts but
still have the accuracy of a far more expensive machine. Can this be done?

thks,

lw


_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @... address at http://mail.yahoo.com