Comparison of the Measurement Performance of High Precision Multi-axis Metal Cutting Machine Tools

Abstract

High precision manufacturers continuously seek out disruptive technologies to improve the quality, cost, and delivery of their products. With the advancement of machine tool and measurement technology many companies are ready to capitalise on the opportunity of on-machine measurement (OMM). Coupled with business case, manufacturing engineers are now questioning whether OMM can soon eliminate the need for post-process inspection systems. Metrologists will however argue that the machining environment is too hostile and that there are numerous process variables which need consideration before traceable measurement on-the-machine can be achieved. In this paper we test the measurement capability of five new multi-axis machine tools enabled as OMM systems via on-machine probing. All systems are tested under various operating conditions in order to better understand the effects of potentially significant variables. This investigation has found that key process variables such as machine tool warm-up and tool-change cycles can have an effect on machine tool measurement repeatability. New data presented here is important to many manufacturers whom are considering utilising their high precision multi-axis machine tools for both the creation and verification of their products.

Random and Systematic Errors Share in Total Error of Probes for CNC Machine Tools

“…The tested probe (1) is fixed in the frame (9). Its stylus (2) tip is placed in the center of the master artefact (3)-an inner hemisphere master artefact or a ring gauge. The ring gauge used for measurements was verified using a Talyrond 365 manufactured by British Taylor Hobson Company.…”

“…Touch-trigger probes for CNC machine tools have many applications: not only are they used for workpiece setup and its dimensional control [1][2][3], but they can also be used for determination of machine tools' errors [4][5][6][7][8][9]. The most popular probes are simple, kinematic ones, which have significant probing errors [10][11][12].…”

Measurement Accuracy Investigation of Touch Trigger Probe with Five-Axis Machine Tools

“…Verma et al experimentally investigated that machine tool required a particular time of operation to reach its stable operating condition, which is known as warmup period and the machine tool drifts throughout this period. This warmup cycle and the tool change cycle has significant influence on the measurement accuracy of the machine tool [10]. Machining process requires coolant liquid for the cutting process that makes the surfaces wet.…”