Steep freeform measurement method based on a normal transverse differential confocal

Abstract

A normal transverse laser differential confocal freeform measurement (NTDCFM) method was proposed to address the high-precision measurement difficulty of steep freeform surfaces with large variations in inclination, scattering, and reflectance. Using D-shaped diaphragm technology, the freeform surface under test (FSUT) axial variation transformed into a spot transverse movement on the detection focal plane. Meanwhile, a 2D position sensitive detector (PSD) was used to obtain the normal vector of the sampling points so that the measuring sensor’s optical axis could track the FSUT normal direction. The focus tracking method extended the sensor measurement range. Theoretical analysis and experimental results showed that the axial resolution of the NTDCFM was better than 0.5 nm, the direction resolution of the normal vector was 0.1°, the maximum surface inclination could be measured up to 90°, the sensor range was 5 mm, and the measurement repeatability of the FSUT was better than 9 nm. It provides an effective new anti-inclination, anti-scattering, and anti-reflectivity method for accurately measuring steep freeform surfaces.

Research on laser confocal free-form surface measurement method based on adaptive ant colony algorithm

“…As mentioned above, the laser confocal technique is considered as one of the highest-precision free-form surface measurement schemes, and we have already designed and validated the laser confocal free-form surface measurement sensors in our previous studies [15][16][17][18] . In this paper, we explain the measurement principle of the confocal signal of the laser confocal measurement system, where the peak value of the confocal response curve corresponds to the focal point of the sensor one-to-one, and thus the height measurement of the free-form surface can be achieved by measuring the peak position of the confocal signal.…”