A new error measurement method to identify all six error parameters of a rotational axis of a machine tool

• Published in: International journal of machine tools & manufacture Vol. 88; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: He, Zhenya, Fu, Jianzhong, Zhang, Liangchi, Yao, Xinhua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Dual optical path; Error analysis; Error compensation; Error detection; Error identification; Errors; Five-axis machine tools; Machine tools; Machining accuracy; Mathematical models; Measurement methods; Motion systems; Rotational; Rotational axis; Five-axis machine tools; Error identification; Error compensation; Dual optical path; Machining accuracy; Rotational axis
• ISSN: 0890-6955; 1879-2170
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmachtools.2014.07.009

This paper presents a new error measurement method, a Dual Optical Path Measurement Method (DOPMM), to identify error parameters of the rotational axis of a machine tool along its error sensitive directions. The method development was carried out on a motorized rotary stage equipped with a Doppler laser instrument. An error measurement experiment and a machining experiment were conducted on a five-axis machining center with a titling rotary table. It was found that the DOPMM can identify all of the six volumetric error parameters with the simple algebraic operations. Compared with the existing ball bar tests, which need a mathematical error modeling of machine tools to separate the error parameters, the identified process of DOPMM is more simple and easier to understand. And the operation of machine tools during the measurement is much easier than that of the existing ball bar tests. The experimental results showed that the part precision can have a significant improvement of 68% when the identified error parameters are used for error compensation. Hence, the measurement method established in this study is sensible and efficient, and could be used for the error compensation on a wide range of machine tools to improve their machining precision. •All the six error parameters inherent to a rotation axis can be identified.•Only the measured axis is moving during the measurement process.•The error identification does not need a volumetric error modeling.•The identified process, a simple algebraic process, is easier to understand.