Z-axis quill assemblies for bridge coordinate measuring machines

01

Match the moving quill to its carriage and installed drive

Renishaw describes the bridge CMM’s vertical quill as a low-inertia member carrying the touch probe. Its carriage and quill drive examples include belt, screw and linear-motor arrangements. Identify the machine’s arrangement before defining the replacement assembly. [1]

Record what is supplied with the quill: bare member, guide hardware, drive attachments, readout hardware or head-mount adaptor. List the items transferred from the installed machine and have the builder review the resulting combination.

Hexagon describes air bearings as providing a compressed-air film between moving members and their guides, with a clean air supply essential to that arrangement. Where the installed quill uses air guidance, obtain its machine-specific air requirements and guide-care instructions. [3]

Keep transport supports, lifting and vertical-axis securing instructions in the service work pack. Agree access and responsibility for removing the installed member before ordering the replacement; use the machine builder’s procedure for the actual assembly.

02

Treat head mounting as a measurement interface

The Renishaw MH8 installation guide calls for a rigid head mounting and a shank specified by the CMM manufacturer. Movement at that joint adds measurement error. It also requires requalification of every head position in use when the head is replaced or repositioned in the quill. [2]

Name the head, shank or adaptor and connection drawing in the order. Specify whether the interface hardware is supplied fitted or transferred, and retain its orientation and cable-access requirements. Include the head and probing configuration in the recommissioning record.

For its MH8 arrangement, Renishaw lists the PEL1 as a 50 mm reach extension and advises against the PEL2, PEL3 and PE series. This is an example of a head-specific extension restriction; check the documentation for the installed head and probe combination. [2]

Review the complete swept envelope with the planned head positions, probe and fixture. Ask the integrator to confirm clearances at the quill’s travel limits and along the measurement path, including the cable route and any changer access.

Separate a head qualification record from the machine checks agreed for the mechanical replacement. Define who will restore the machine configuration, qualify the probing setup and demonstrate the required measurements before returning the CMM to service.

03

Preserve the relationship between the quill, its scale and temperature model

Renishaw distinguishes floating scales, which follow their own thermal expansion, from mastered scales, which follow the supporting substrate. Its CMM example explains why scale mounting and structural temperature response need to be considered together. [1]

Record the quill material, scale mounting, readhead location and temperature-sensing arrangement from the builder’s documentation. If any of these changes with the replacement, obtain a review of the measurement configuration rather than carrying its settings forward by assumption.

Hexagon explains that temperature affects both the inspected part and the CMM structure. Record the environmental conditions specified for the machine checks, together with the conditions observed during the post-installation measurement run. [3]

Agree the acceptance work before dismantling: mechanical installation checks, restored service and readout operation, head qualification and the applicable machine measurement checks. Keep the replacement identity, installed configuration, test method and results in the service record.

If the work includes a new scale, head or controller configuration, identify that additional change explicitly. This makes the acceptance record describe the assembly actually returned to service and gives future repairs a usable configuration baseline.

04

Bridge CMM quill replacement and recommissioning brief

Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.

Machine identity: [builder, model, serial number and current configuration]
Quill: [part/drawing revision, material, section, guide datums and required travel envelope]
Assembly boundary: [supplied parts and hardware transferred from the installed machine]
Motion and support: [guide arrangement, drive connection, vertical securing and exchange procedure]
Head interface: [head/probe models, shank/adaptor drawing, orientation, services and swept clearances]
Readout and temperature: [scale/readhead, mounting, reference configuration, sensors and changes proposed]
Installation: [builder review, responsible service provider, access, supports and required supplies]
Return to service: [installation checks, head qualification, machine measurement checks, environmental conditions and retained reports]

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