Self-calibration of rotary axis and linear axes error motions by an automated on-machine probing test cycle

Abstract

Efficient, precise and automated in-process calibration schemes are essential to improve the accuracy and productivity of five-axis machine tools. This paper presents a new calibration approach, which combines an on-machine measurement cycle and self-calibration techniques, to evaluate the position errors and the error motions of a rotary axis using a touch trigger probe and an uncalibrated cylindrical artefact. This significantly reduces the downtime of machine tools required for the calibration process. In contrast to many common calibration strategies for rotary axes of five-axis machine tools, the presented self-calibration concept does not neglect the positioning errors of the linear axes when identifying the position errors and the error motions of the rotary axis. The self-calibration procedure is able to separate the positioning errors of the linear axes in radial direction, and the radial error motions and the position errors of a rotary axis, as well as the errors related to the uncalibrated artefact. This error separation is realized by a test cycle consisting of four tests in which the measurements are conducted by particular axis movements. Furthermore, an uncertainty analysis of the self-calibration concept is conducted to visualize the uncertainty propagation within the mathematical model. The self-calibration procedure is analyzed by an experimental evaluation, which includes a comparison between the results of the self-calibration approach and an R-Test. This comparison shows that the results of both measurement procedures are consistent.