Null-indicator (NI) is an optical device setting up a reference direction in space for high-precision angle measurements by means of dynamic goniometry. During continuous rotation of the optical object under test (e.g. optical polygon or gauge) together with the angular scale the NI registers moments when reflecting faces of the object are normal to the optical axis of the NI. At these moments NI yields electronic logical pulse which triggers the readout from the angular scale. Conventionally interferometric null-indicators were considered as the most accurate, though they have few significant drawbacks. The interferometric NI is very sensitive to the quality of the reflecting surface and other factors that may bring aberrations to the NI emitted wavefront. This makes the interferometric NI suitable only for laboratory applications with test objects of high quality. Recent development has shown that autocollimating NI with digital signal processing can reach the same level of random error as the interferometric one. But during testing of the experimental model of the autocollimating NI authors have encountered systematic error that needed additional study. The encountered error was related to the adjustment of certain element of the NI optical scheme and the object under test relatively to the axis of rotation. The report presents theoretical and experimental study of the influence of aforementioned factors on the accuracy of setting the reference direction by the autocollimating NI. Also authors give recommendations on the adjustment procedure of the dynamic goniometer utilizing autocollimating NI in order to reach required measurement accuracy.
We present the results of research of the angle measurement system for direction measurements. Development of the system is based on the dynamic goniometer, whose operation is defined by continuous rotation of the platform with the autocollimating null-indicator. The measurements of angles between mirrors are provided by the null-indicator and optical encoder. The results of the system calibration with the use of standard optical polygon are presented. The computer simulation of the calibration process was carried out, and requirements to optical elements alignment accuracy were estimated.
The results of analysis and experimental investigation of a laser goniometer (LG), working in the mode of the noncontact measurement of an object’s angular position, are presented. The important feature of this approach is the very wide range of high-accuracy measurements. In this case, the LG, characterized by the accuracy of ∼0.1 arc sec, has big advantages in comparison to photoelectrical autocollimators which have a rather narrow range of measured angular positions. Our results indicate that the use of a laser dynamic goniometer makes it possible to measure constant angles with an accuracy of 0.05 to 0.1 arc sec in the range of possible angles of 15 to 20 deg. If the measured angle is varying, the residual measurement error contains an additional component, which is equal to ∼0.2 arc sec, induced by the nonflatness of the optical polygon’s faces and by the problems with statistical averaging of the measurement results.
Now more and more digital optical rotary encoders with a serial output code are widely adopted. In this regard there is a
need of an assessment of precision characteristics of such converters.
As means of calibration and checking of such sensors the dynamic laser goniometer with the ring laser as a reference
angular sensor is used.
In the report the technique of an estimation of precision characteristics of angular optical encoders with a serial output
code is considered.
The report presents results of analysis and experimental research of the laser goniometer in the mode of operation – noncontact
measurements of an object’s angular position. An important feature of this mode is an extremely large range of
measurement with high accuracy. With the usual resolution of about 0,1 arcs the laser goniometer has in this mode of
operation an essential advantage against photo-electric autocollimators with their rather small measuring range. Obtained
results confirm that the laser dynamic goniometer using in the mode of non-contact measurement of an object’s angular
position can be characterized by the range of angle measurements up to 15…20 deg and accuracy of constant angles on
the level 0,05…0,1 arcs. The error of angles changing in time has additional components on the level of 0,2 arcs
connected with influence of optical polygon face unflatness and difficulties of use the statistical averaging of
measurement results.
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