초록 ▼

A system and method are described for ballizing and measuring a workpiece bore hole. In one embodiment, a ballizing unit having a distal end removably coupled to a ballizing member moves the ballizing member from a first position within the bore hole to a second position. A metrology unit having a d

A system and method are described for ballizing and measuring a workpiece bore hole. In one embodiment, a ballizing unit having a distal end removably coupled to a ballizing member moves the ballizing member from a first position within the bore hole to a second position. A metrology unit having a distal end removably coupled to the ballizing member moves the ballizing member from the second position back to the first position. A sensor detects a force exerted on the ballizing member by the workpiece at a third position, which is located between the first and second positions.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed: 1. A ballizing pusher operable to ballize a bore hole of a workpiece, the ballizing pusher comprising: a body comprising an elongate end, the elongate end comprising a bottom portion, wherein a diameter of the elongate end is less than a diameter of the bore hole; a first opening f

What is claimed: 1. A ballizing pusher operable to ballize a bore hole of a workpiece, the ballizing pusher comprising: a body comprising an elongate end, the elongate end comprising a bottom portion, wherein a diameter of the elongate end is less than a diameter of the bore hole; a first opening formed in the bottom portion; and a vacuum port extending from the first opening through the body to a connector, wherein the vacuum port is operable to transfer to the first opening, a vacuum force applied at the connector, wherein the vacuum force is operable to hold a ballizing member at the bottom portion of the elongate end, wherein the ballizing member is operable to be pushed by the body through the bore hole to ballize the bore hole. 2. The ballizing pusher of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion includes a concave portion to receive the ballizing member. 3. The ballizing pusher of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum source coupled to the connector. 4. The ballizing pusher according to claim 1, wherein the ballizing member may disengage from the bottom portion absent the vacuum force. 5. The ballizing pusher according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the first opening is narrower than a diameter of the vacuum port distal the first opening. 6. The ballizing pusher according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the vacuum port proximate the connector is approximately equal to a diameter of the first opening. 7. The ballizing pusher according to claim 1, wherein the bottom portion further comprises a means for aligning the ballizing member with the bore hole. 8. The ballizing pusher of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the body operable to sense a force exerted on the body to push the ballizing member through the bore hole. 9. A system for ballizing a bore hole of a workpiece, the system comprising: a ballizing unit comprising a ballizing pusher with an end configured to receive a ballizing member, the end comprising a first opening to a cavity formed in the pusher configured to transfer a vacuum force to the ballizing member to hold the ballizing member to the ballizing pusher with the vacuum force, wherein the ballizing unit moves the ballizing member along an axis from a first position within the bore hole to a second position within the bore hole; and a metrology unit operable to estimate a force required to move the ballizing member through the bore hole along the axis from the second position to the first position. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the metrology unit comprises a metrology pusher operable to push the ballizing member along the axis from the second position towards the first position. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the metrology unit is operable to estimate the force required to move the ballizing member through the bore hole at a third position between the first position and the second position, as the ballizing member is pushed from the second position to the first position. 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the metrology unit is operable to estimate the force required to move the ballizing member through the bore hole at a position between the second position and the first position. 13. The system of claim 9, wherein the metrology unit is further operable to estimate a diameter of the bore hole based on the force estimate. 14. The system of claim 9, wherein the first opening has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the cavity, distal the first opening. 15. The system according to claim 9 wherein the ballizing pusher further comprises a second opening to the cavity for receiving the vacuum force, wherein a diameter of the second opening is larger than a diameter of the first opening. 16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a vacuum source operable to produce the vacuum force applied to the second opening. 17. The system according to claim 9, wherein the end of the ballizing pusher further comprises a curved surface portion for receiving the ballizing member and aligning it with the bore hole. 18. A ballizing apparatus comprising: an elongate member comprising a radiused first end surface, a second end, and a cavity defined therein, the cavity comprising a first opening defined in the radiused first end surface, and a second opening defined in the second end, wherein the second opening is configured to couple with a vacuum source, thereby providing a vacuum force to a ballizing member provided at the radiused first end surface, wherein the vacuum force is operable to hold the ballizing member to the radiused first end surface while the ballizing member is operable to be pushed by the ballizing apparatus through a bore hole to ballize the bore hole. 19. The ballizing apparatus of claim 18, wherein a diameter of the first opening is narrower than a diameter of the second opening. 20. The ballizing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first opening and the second opening have approximately equal diameters.