TOUCH PROBE

摘要

A magazine has a plurality of storage ports 100 each of which retains a stylus module 14 for use in measuring workpiece dimensions on a coordinate measuring machine. Each storage port 100 is configured as a pair of jaws provided by docking inserts 114. A permanent magnet 118 is mounted on each docking insert 114. The lower casing of the stylus module 14 is urged against the inwardly facing edges 116 of the docking inserts 114 by the magnetic attraction force due the magnets 118. The stylus module 14 is engaged with a retaining module (on the quill of the machine) by moving the retaining module in a downward sense to engage the stylus module 14; further downward movement disengages the stylus module 14 from the storage port 100, thus enabling engagement of such a stylus module and removal of the module from the storage port in a single continuous movement.