Volumetric positioning accuracy of a vertical machining center equipped with linear motor drives (evaluated by the laser vector method)

O.Svoboda Research Center of Manufacturing Technology, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic.

Abstract The accuracy of machined workpieces represents the main criterion for every workshop. One of the most important contributing factors is the geometric accuracy of the machine tool. Machines are nowadays equipped with control systems enabling engineers to perform various types of compensations. In the case of geometric compensations the question stands whether to apply only axial compensations or also inter-axial compensations. The article shows the differences in the geometric accuracy of a vertical machining center equipped with linear motor drives measured in three different statuses. The machine tool was checked by the classical method according to the ISO 230-2 standard in different positions within the working volume in each axis and also by the sequential diagonal measurement technique determining the diagonal positioning accuracy. The three statuses are represented firstly by the machine tool without compensations, secondly by the machine tool compensated from an ISO 230-2 measurement and thirdly by the machine tool volumetrically compensated from a sequential diagonal measurement.

1 Introduction The laser vector technique introduced by Charles Wang from the Optodyne company in [1] enables engineers to perform an analysis from the data obtained during a sequential diagonal measurement of the positioning accuracy. The