Renishaw Equator User manual

Equator™ gauging system
www.renishaw.com/gauging
Installation guide
H-5504-8640-01-A

2
Regulatory information
Disclaimer
RENISHAW HAS MADE CONSIDERABLE EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE CONTENT OF THIS DOCUMENT
IS CORRECT AT THE DATE OF PUBLICATION BUT MAKES NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS
REGARDING THE CONTENT. RENISHAW EXCLUDES LIABILITY, HOWSOEVER ARISING, FOR ANY
INACCURACIES IN THIS DOCUMENT.
Patents
Features of Renishaw’s Equator and similar products are the subject of the following patents and patent
applications:
CNw 100402873C China 0516/CNw/0
CNw CN100464084C China 0584/CNw/0
CNw CN1295484C China 0543/CNw/0
EP 0470234 Europe 0187/EP/
EP 0501710 Europe 0243/EP/
EP 0543513 Europe 0226/EP/
EP 0564152 Europe 0249/EP/
EP 0674969 Europe 0317/EP/
EP 0748436 Europe 0344/EP/
EP 1086352 Europe 0439/EP/
EP 1147377 Europe 0449/EP/
EP 1368615 Europe 0495/EP/
EP 1407152 Europe 0516/EP/
EP 1446636 Europe 0543/EP/
EP 1505362 Europe 0439/EP/
EP 1528355 Europe 0543/EP/
EP 1585903 Europe 0584/EP/
EP 1777423 Europe 0516/EP/
EP 548328 B Europe 0211/EP/
EP 826138 B Europe 0376/EP/
EP TR 2009 02853 T4 Europe 0516/EP/
JP 2,510,804 Japan 0243/JP/0
JPw 2002-541,444 Japan 0439/JPw/0
JPw 2003-512,611 Japan 0449/JPw/0
JPw 2004-534,189 Japan 0516/JPw/0
JPw 2005-519277 Japan 0543/JPw/0
JPw 2006-513380 Japan 0584/JPw/0
JPw 3,004,050 Japan 0187/JPw/0
JPw 3,294,269 Japan 0211/JPw/0
JP 3,341,922 Japan 0249/JP/0
JPw 3,676,819 Japan 0376/JPw/0
JP 3,827,748 Japan 0317/JP/0
JPw 4062515 Japan 0495/JPw/0
WO 2009/027660 P.C.T. 0746/WO/0
USw 5,088,209 United States 0115/USw/0
US 5,302,820 United States 0226/US/2
US 5,323,540 United States 0243/US/2
USw 5,327,657 United States 0211/USw/0
US 5,339,535 United States 0243/US/0
US 5,402,981 United States 0249/US/0
USw 5,404,649 United States 0211/USw/2
US 5,505,005 United States 0243/US/3
US 5,813,287 United States 0317/US/2
USw 5,861,953 United States 0344/USw/0
USw 6,051,971 United States 0376/USw/0
US 6,145,405 United States 0317/US/3
US 6,336,375B1 United States 0317/US/4
USw 6,430,833 B1 United States 0439/USw/0
USw 6,588,333 B1 United States 0449/USw/0
US 6,772,527 B1 United States 0590/US/0
USw 6,909,983 B2 United States 0495/USw/0
USw 7,079,969B2 United States 0543/USw/0
USw 7146741B2 United States 0439/USw/2
USw 7241070 B2 United States 0516/USw/0
US 7568854B2 United States 0516/US/2
Trade marks
RENISHAW and the probe symbol used in the RENISHAW logo are registered trade marks of Renishaw plc
in the United Kingdom and other countries. apply innovation and names and designations of other Renishaw
products and technologies are trade marks of Renishaw plc or its subsidiaries.
All other brand names and product names used in this document are trade names, trade marks, or registered
trade marks of their respective owners.
Warranty
Equipment requiring attention under warranty must be returned to your equipment supplier.
Unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing between you and Renishaw, if you purchased the equipment
from a Renishaw company the warranty provisions contained in Renishaw’s CONDITIONS OF SALE apply.
You should consult these conditions in order to find out the details of your warranty but in summary the main
exclusions from the warranty are if the equipment has been:
• neglected, mishandled or inappropriately used; or
• modified or altered in any way except with the prior written agreement of Renishaw.
If you purchased the equipment from any other supplier, you should contact them to find out what repairs are
covered by their warranty.

Disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment
The use of this symbol on Renishaw products and/or accompanying documentation
indicates that the product should not be mixed with general household waste
upon disposal. It is the responsibility of the end user to dispose of this product at a
designated collection point for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to
enable reuse or recycling. Correct disposal of this product will help to save valuable
resources and prevent potential negative effects on the environment. For more
information, please contact your local waste disposal service or Renishaw distributor.
EU declaration of conformity
Renishaw plc hereby declares that the Equator 300/500, the Equator 300/500 Extended Height and the Equator
Controller is in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of the applicable EU
directives.
Contact Renishaw plc or visit www.renishaw.com/equatorproductguides for the full EU declaration of conformity.
REACH regulation
Information required by Article 33(1) of Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 (“REACH”) relating to products
containing substances of very high concern (SVHCs) is available at: www.renishaw.com/REACH
China RoHS
For more information on China RoHS, visit: www.renishaw.com/ChinaRoHSGAUGING
TÜV
This equipment has been independently certified by TÜV Product Services in accordance with OSHA (US) and
SCC (Canada) requirements to the standards UL61010-1 Third Edition and CAN/CSA-C22-2 No. 61010-1 Third
Edition.
This equipment is for indoor use only.
The United States of America (USA)
Information to user (FCC Section 15.105)
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class A digital device, pursuant to part
15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the installation manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause
harmful interference, in which case you will be required to correct the interference at your expense.
Information to user (FCC Section 15.21)
The user is cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved by Renishaw plc or authorised
representative could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Canada
This ISM device complies with Canadian ICES-001.
Cet appareil ISM est conforme à la norme ICES-001 du Canada.
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Contents
Specifications ......................................................................................................................................................5
Equator 300 gauging system specifications .....................................................................................................8
Equator 300 gauging system geometry..........................................................................................................10
Equator 300 Extended Height gauging system geometry..............................................................................12
Equator 500 gauging system specifications ...................................................................................................14
Equator 500 gauging system geometry..........................................................................................................16
Equator 500 Extended Height gauging system geometry..............................................................................18
Equator Controller specifications - Version 08................................................................................................20
Equator Controller specifications - Version 09................................................................................................22
Probe kit specifications - Scanning ................................................................................................................24
Probe kit specifications - Touch Trigger ..........................................................................................................25
MCUlite-2 joystick specifications....................................................................................................................26
Equator Button Interface specifications..........................................................................................................27
Safety..................................................................................................................................................................28
Equator 300 safety information.......................................................................................................................29
Equator 500 safety information.......................................................................................................................32
Equator Controller ..........................................................................................................................................35
Personal protective equipment information ....................................................................................................36
Shipping/Handling/Storage ..............................................................................................................................37
Unboxing the Equator 300..............................................................................................................................39
Unboxing the Equator 500..............................................................................................................................41
Installation..........................................................................................................................................................43
Connecting cables - Equator 300 ...................................................................................................................44
Connecting cables - Equator 500 ...................................................................................................................46
Connecting probe system - Equator 300........................................................................................................48
Connecting probe adaptor - Equator 500 .......................................................................................................50
Connecting probe system - Equator 500........................................................................................................51
Connecting styli ..............................................................................................................................................53
Downloading Equator license and Software Suite..........................................................................................54
Operation............................................................................................................................................................56
Stop button, joystick and Equator Button Interface.........................................................................................57
Moving the platform manually (Equator 300 only)..........................................................................................59
Workpiece and fixture plate loading ...............................................................................................................60
Starting the system.........................................................................................................................................61
Activating a system license ............................................................................................................................62
Homing ...........................................................................................................................................................63
Calibrating the tools........................................................................................................................................65
Locating the EQR-6 autochange rack - Part 1................................................................................................69
Locating the EQR-6 autochange rack - Part 2................................................................................................72
System shutdown ...........................................................................................................................................73
Cleaning and maintenance...............................................................................................................................75
Diagnosing Faults .............................................................................................................................................77
Equator 300 lights and signals .......................................................................................................................78
Equator 500 lights and signals .......................................................................................................................79
Error messages and common errors..............................................................................................................80
Dismantling and Disposal.................................................................................................................................81
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Specifications
This guide contains information on the following Equator™ gauging system models.
Equator™ 300
A-5504-0040
Equator™ 300 Extended Height
A-5504-0050
Equator™ 500
A-6078-0070
Equator™ 500 Extended Height
A-6078-0085

The Equator gauging system comprises the Equator gauging machine, the Equator Controller and the probing
system.
The Equator gauging system can be an Operator only system or a Programmable system.
The Operator Equator system includes the following components:
• Equator gauging machine
• Controller
• Monitor
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Probe system
• EQR-6 stylus autochange rack
• Calibration artefact and styli
• Stop button
• One or more fixture plates (as quantity ordered)
• Organiser software
The programmable Equator system includes all of the above as well as the following components:
• Joystick
• MODUS Equator software
• USB dongle (enables MODUS Equator software)
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Machine
Machine Volume
(W x D x H)
(mm)
Weight
(kg)
Working Volume
(W x H)
(mm)
Fixture Plate
(W x D)
(mm)
WV height from
base*
(mm)
Equator 300 570 × 500 × 700 25 300 × 150 305 × 305 1
Equator 300
Extended Height 570 × 500 × 850 27 300 × 150 305 × 305 151
Equator 500 1245 × 1165 × 1545 74 500 × 250 510 × 510 0
Equator 500
Extended Height 1245 × 1165 × 1695 75 500 × 250 510 × 510 150
*When using a 75 mm × Ø8 mm stylus.
When shorter styli are used, the ‘clearance' below the working volume is intended to allow for the use of
component holding fixtures, i.e. fixturing can be used without consuming any of the Equator's working volume.
Equator™ 300 Equator™ 300 Extended Height
Equator™ 500 Equator™ 500 Extended Height
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8
Equator 300 gauging system specications
13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
10
12
14
15
15
1. Base casting with hand hold locations
2. SP25 probe assembly
3. Floating or moving platform
4. Support strut
5. Top casting
6. Drive strut
7. Counterbalance mechanism
8. Upper pivot / Hooke’s joint
9. Support arm for parallel constraint mechanism
10.CE marking and serial number
11.Drive housing
12.Parallel constraint mechanism
13.Fixture plate
14.Workpiece and fixture
15.Stop button and Button Interface, when fitted

Equator 300 machine specifications
Comparison uncertainty ± 0.002 mm
Scale resolution 0.0002 mm
Maximum move velocity 500 mm/s
Maximum move acceleration 2500 mm/s2
Storage temperature -25 °C to +70 °C
Operating temperature +5 °C to +50 °C
Operating humidity Maximum 80 %RH at 40 °C, non-condensing
Machine electrical supply requirements 24 V DC supplied direct from Equator Controller
Repeatability of piece part in fixture 1 mm
Maximum workpiece weight (including fixture plate) 25 kg
Protective equipment suggested* Eye protection and safety shoes
Guards None
The process of measuring on an Equator involves defining a series of gauge points on the component
surface. Periodic calibration of a master part on a CMM establishes datum values for each gauge point. The
same gauge points on the same master part are measured on Equator (known as ‘mastering’) to establish
a correlation with the certified CMM. Subsequently, a regular ‘re-mastering’ process is used to account for
changing environmental conditions.
Size and position measurements made immediately following re-mastering will have a comparison uncertainty
of ±0.002 mm relative to the certified measurements of the master part. This specification applies where each
part is fixtured to within 1 mm relative to the master part.
*Customers should complete their own risk assessment on delivery of the machine to define their own PPE
requirements.
Equator 300 machine specifications - Scanning
Probe type Renishaw 3 axis SP25 analogue scanning probe
Maximum scanning velocity* 200 mm/s
Maximum scanning acceleration 1500 mm/s2
Maximum scanning rate 1000 points/s
Equator 300 machine specifications - Touch Trigger
Probe type Renishaw 3 axis TP20 kinematic touch-trigger probe
Maximum touch point velocity 10 mm/s
Maximum touch acceleration 1500 mm/s2
Equator 300 machine labels
A warning label on each of the three support arms for the constraint mechanism warns
not to lift the machine by the support arms. The Equator machine should only be lifted
using the four hand holds on the base casting.
* Maximum scanning speed cannot be guaranteed as it is affected by feature type/size/finish and stylus
configurations.
9

10
Equator 300 gauging system geometry

Collision geometry
11

12
Equator 300 Extended Height gauging system geometry

Collision geometry
13

14
Equator 500 gauging system specications
6
5
3
17
2
1
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
4
7
15
16
1. Base casting
2. SP25 probe assembly
3. Floating or moving platform
4. Support strut
5. Top casting
6. Drive strut
7. Counterbalance mechanism
8. Upper pivot and alignment bracket
9. Support arm for parallel constraint mechanism
10.CE marking and serial number
11.Drive housing
12.Parallel constraint mechanism
13.Fixture plate
14.Workpiece and fixture
15.Stop button and Button Interface, when fitted
16.Blanking cap / eye bolt
17.Equator Autojoint Adapter (EQ-AA1)

Equator 500 machine specifications
Comparison uncertainty ± 0.002 mm
Scale resolution 0.00001 mm
Maximum move velocity 750 mm/s
Maximum move acceleration 5000 mm/s2
Storage temperature -25 °C to +70 °C
Operating temperature +5 °C to +50 °C
Operating humidity Maximum 80 %RH at 40 °C, non-condensing
Machine electrical supply requirements 48 V DC supplied direct from Equator controller
Repeatability of piece part in fixture 1 mm
Maximum workpiece weight (including fixture plate) 100 kg
Protective equipment suggested* Eye protection and safety shoes
Guards None
The process of measuring on an Equator involves defining a series of gauge points on the component
surface. Periodic calibration of a master part on a CMM establishes datum values for each gauge point. The
same gauge points on the same master part are measured on Equator (known as ‘mastering’) to establish
a correlation with the certified CMM. Subsequently, a regular ‘re-mastering’ process is used to account for
changing environmental conditions.
Size and position measurements made immediately following re-mastering will have a comparison uncertainty
of ±0.002 mm relative to the certified measurements of the master part. This specification applies where each
part is fixtured to within 1 mm relative to the master part.
*Customers should complete their own risk assessment on delivery of the machine to define their own PPE
requirements.
Equator 500 machine specifications - Scanning
Probe type Renishaw 3 axis SP25 analogue scanning probe
Maximum scanning velocity* 250 mm/s
Maximum scanning acceleration 1500 mm/s2
Maximum scanning rate 2000 points/s
Equator 500 machine specifications - Touch Trigger
Probe type Renishaw 3 axis TP20 kinematic touch-trigger probe
Maximum touch point velocity 10 mm/s
Maximum touch acceleration 1500 mm/s2
Equator 500 machine labels
A warning label on each of the three support arms for the constraint mechanism warns
not to lift the machine by the support arms. The Equator 500 should only be lifted using
mechanical means.
* Maximum scanning speed cannot be guaranteed as it is affected by feature type/size/finish and stylus
configurations.
15

16
Equator 500 gauging system geometry

Collision geometry
17

18
Equator 500 Extended Height gauging system geometry

Collision geometry
19

20
Equator Controller specications - Version 08
1. Power button
2. 2x USB 3.0 ports
3. Fans and filters
4. PS/2 port - Mouse
5. Serial port (Not supported)
6. LAN1 and LAN2 ports
7. DC Power Out (48V)
8. DC Power Out (24V)
9. Power supply and switch
10.PS/2 port - Keyboard
11.4x USB 2.0 ports
12.Display Port 1 and 2 (DPP1 & DPP2)
13.Digital Visual Interface (DVI)
14.2x USB 3.0 ports
15.2x USB 2.0 ports
16.Audio (Audio OUT supported, Mic IN not
supported)
17.PCIe COMMS