Influence of measurement noise and laser arrangement on measurement uncertainty of laser tracker multilateration in machine tool volumetric verification

This paper aims to present different techniques and factors that affect the measurement accuracy of a commercial laser tracker responsible for capturing checkpoints used in machine tool volumetric verification. This study was conducted to uncover various sources of error affecting the measurement uncertainty of the laser tracker, additional sources of error that further contributed to the uncertainty, and the factors influencing these techniques. We also define several noise reduction techniques for the measurements.The improvement in the accuracy of captured points focuses on a multilateration technique and its various resolution methods both analytically and geometrically. Similarly, we present trilateration and least squares techniques that can be used for laser tracker self-calibration, which is an essential parameter in multilateration.This paper presents the influence of the spatial distribution of laser trackers (LTs) in measurement noise reduction by multilateration, which produces an improvement in volumetric error machine tool reduction. A study of the spatial angle between LTs, the distance and the visibility of the point to be measured are presented using a synthetic test. All of these factors limit the scope of multilateration. Similarly, a comparison of self-calibration techniques using the least squares and trilateration methods with which to determine the relative position of the laser tracker employees is presented. We also present the influence of the relationship between the radial and angular measurement noise self-calibration processes as it relates to the volumetric error reduction achieved by the machine tool with multilateration. All studies were performed using synthetic tests generated using a synthetic data parametric generator.     

Manufacture of face-hobbed straight bevel gears using a six-axis CNC bevel gear cutting machine

Face hobbing is a continuous indexing and double-flank cutting process whose high productivity and precision has made it one of the leading methods for fabricating spiral bevel and hypoid gears. The current method is inappropriate, however, for cutting straight bevel gears (SBGs) because it generates extended epicycloidal flanks. Nonetheless, a mathematical model of a face-hobbed SBG was successfully established in earlier research that enables straight cutting paths to cut straight tooth spaces based on a hypocycloidal straight-line mechanism in which the rolling circle radius equals half the base circle radius. This mathematical model, however, is based on a virtual universal cradle-type bevel gear cutting machine that has not yet been developed. This paper therefore proposes another mathematical model of face-hobbed SBG based on a modern six-axis computer numerical control (CNC) bevel gear cutting machine. The six-axis nonlinear machine settings are derived through conversion from the cradle-type machine settings. Meanwhile, the usage of electric gearbox (EGB) for bevel gear cutting is not revealed because of commercial consideration. Therefore, we also provide a solution to use EGB of Fanuc 16i CNC controller. A cutting experiment validates the proposed mathematical models using our developed six-axis CNC bevel gear cutting machine to cut the face-hobbed SBGs. Finally, a flank topographic correction is made that, according to postcorrection simulated topographic errors, can effectively reduce manufacturing errors. This paper successfully implements a face-hobbing process for manufacturing SBGs on a modern six-axis CNC bevel gear cutting machine.     

‘Open-loop’ tracking interferometer for machine tool volumetric error measurement—Two-dimensional case

The tracking interferometer, or the laser tracker, is a laser interferometer with a steering mechanism to regulate the laser beam direction to follow a retroreflector (“target”). Applying the multilateration principle, it measures the target's three-dimensional position at an arbitrary location in the workspace. Its application to the volumetric accuracy measurement for coordinate measurement machines or machine tools has been long studied. In this paper, we propose the ‘open-loop’ tracking interferometer, where the laser beam is regulated toward the command target position. This eliminates the automated tracking mechanism and thus may significantly reduce the manufacturing cost of conventional tracking interferometers. The objective of this paper is to validate this ‘open-loop’ tracking interferometer concept by investigating its measurement uncertainty both experimentally and analytically. To simplify the problem, this paper focuses on the measurement of the target's two-dimensional position by using a single-axis ‘open-loop’ tracking interferometer prototype.     

Impact of measurement procedure when error mapping and compensating a small CNC machine using a multilateration laser interferometer

This paper deals with the accuracy of compensation of machine tools using a tracking interferometer using the multilateration method. The measurement strategy and thermal drift compensation of the measurements are studied. It shows that most effects of temperature are accurately compensated by the laser tracking interferometer software. However, thermal drifts of accessories are not taken into account, and are therefore not corrected. To validate the robustness of procedures, the geometrical errors of the same machine tool were measured by five measurement strategies using the same equipment. Each strategy is devised and carried out independently by a different person from several institutions. For each strategy, the geometrical compensations were applied to a set of nominal tool path points. The difference, between the nominal points and the compensated or uncompensated points was calculated. This criterion was used to discuss the procedures employed by the participants.     

Using a double ball bar to identify position-independent geometric errors on the rotary axes of five-axis machine tools

A measuring method using a double ball bar (DBB) is proposed for identifying the eight position-independent geometric errors (PIGE) on the rotary axes of five-axis machine tools. Three measuring patterns are used, in which the translational axes are kept stationary and only two rotary axes move to obtain a circular trajectory. In this way, the effects of translational axes are totally excluded, and the measurement accuracy is improved. Motion equations, describing how the A-axis and C-axis move simultaneously to realize a circular trajectory, are presented. The influence of each deviation on the measurement patterns is simulated, and analytical solutions for the eight PIGEs are demonstrated. Finally, the measuring method is verified in a five-axis CNC machine tool. Experimental results confirm that the method provides precision results for the eight PIGEs.     

Thermal error of a hydrostatic spindle

This paper proposes a thermo-mechanical error model of a hydrostatic spindle for a high precision machine tool. By predicting the variation of motion error induced by thermal effects on a machine worktable during machining, this model allows deeper insights into the underlying mechanisms that result in evolutions of the spindle accuracy. The heat power generated in the spindle elements and the coefficients of convection heat transfer over its outer surface have been evaluated. Then, the distribution of temperature and deformation of the spindle have been simulated by a finite element coupled thermo-elastic model, from which the influence on notably spindle stiffness variation was deduced. Experimental measurement of the thrust plate axial displacement under thermal expansion is in close agreement with the computed axial thermal expansion.     

激光跟踪仪多边测量的不确定度评定

激光跟踪仪多边测量是大型高端装备制造现场溯源的重要手段,正确评定其不确定度是确保制造过程量值统一、结果可靠的关键。本文提出了一种准确、快速的激光跟踪仪多边测量的不确定度评定方法。从仪器误差、环境干扰及靶球制造误差等方面分析激光跟踪仪多边测量的不确定度来源。针对多边测量的输出量为多维向量的特点,重点研究基于多维不确定度传播律(GUM法)的不确定度合成方法,同步评定目标点坐标和跟踪仪站位的不确定度。最后,介绍了点到点长度的不确定度计算方法。实验表明:GUM法评定的不确定度结果与蒙特卡洛法(MCM法)的结果相比,坐标不确定度偏差小于0.000 2 mm,相关系数偏差小于0.01,满足数值容差,且GUM法用时仅为MCM法的0.08%;点到点长度测试的En值均小于1。因此,基于GUM法评定激光跟踪仪多边测量的不确定度具有可行性及高效性,且评定结果正确、可靠。     

A general strategy for geometric error identification of multi-axis machine tools based on point measurement

Geometric error component identification is needed to realize the geometric error compensation which can significantly enhance the accuracy of multi-axis machine tools. Laser tracker has been applied to geometric error identification of machine tools increasingly due to its high capability in 3D metrology. A general method, based on point measurement using a laser tracker is developed for identifying the geometric error components of multi-axis machine tools in this study. By using this method, all the component errors and location errors of each axis (including the linear axis and rotary axis) of the multi-axis machine tools can be measured. Three pre-described targets are fixed on the stage of the under-test axis which moves step by step. The coordinates of the three targets at every step are determined by a laser tracker based on the sequential multilateration method. The volumetric errors of these three target points at each step can be obtained by comparing the measured values of the target points’ coordinates with the ideal values. Then, nine equations can be established by inversely applying the geometric error model of the axis under test, which can explicitly describe the relationship between the geometric error components and volumetric error components, and then the component errors of this axis can be obtained by solving these equations. The location errors of the axis under test can be determined through the curve fitting. In brief, all the geometric error components of a single axis of multi-axis machine tools can be measured by the proposed method. The validity of the proposed method is verified through a series of experiments, and the experimental results indicate that the proposed method is capable of identifying all the geometric error components of multi-axis machine tools of arbitrary configuration.     

微细加工中的微型铣床、微刀具磨损及切削力的实验研究

由于微机电系统(Micro Electro Mechanical System,MEMS)在微小零件加工中存在不足,微细铣削加工作为一项补充技术正在日益受到人们的重视。介绍了研制的微型精密三轴联动立式铣床(300 mm×300 mm×290 mm)的系统构成,开发了中文控制软件并集成了视频采集系统,此设备在薄膜型工件(膜厚65 μm)的微槽加工中取得了满意的效果(膜厚方向上材料去除率90.7%,成品率大于80%)。对微径端铣刀进行了力学特性分析,并通过刀具磨损试验分析了微径硬质合金TiA1N涂层及非涂层铣刀的磨损机理。最后通过槽铣硬铝2A12的试验研究了切削用量(主轴转速、背吃刀量和每齿进给量)对微细铣削力的影响,为微细铣削切削机理的深入研究奠定了基础。     

浮点数编码改进遗传算法在平面度误差评定中的研究

随着智能制造系统的迅猛发展,应用元启发模式计算方法快速、准确地求解平面度误差值凸显出重大现实意义。为进一步提高平面度误差计算精度,研究了一种基于浮点数编码的改进遗传算法,在原有遗传算法的交叉变异基础之上,引入模拟退火思想,建立最小包容区域法的数学模型,通过计算机仿真获得了最佳适应度收敛曲线和平均适应度收敛曲线,优化结果表明相比传统遗传算法,平面度误差计算精度提高了33.67%。本算法采用浮点数编码、三段式交叉、转轮式选择和最优保存策略,借助模拟退火算法的局部搜索优势,提升了算法的整体性能,且更便于计算机编程,可进一步推广应用到智能测量仪器的其他高精度形位尺寸计算问题领域。     

Integrated simulation method for interaction between manufacturing process and machine tool

The interaction between the machining process and the machine tool (IMPMT) plays an important role on high precision components manufacturing. However, most researches are focused on the machining process or the machine tool separately, and the interaction between them has been always overlooked. In this paper, a novel simplified method is proposed to realize the simulation of IMPMT by combining use the finite element method and state space method. In this method, the transfer function of the machine tool is built as a small state space. The small state space is obtained from the complicated finite element model of the whole machine tool. Furthermore, the control system of the machine tool is integrated with the transfer function of the machine tool to generate the cutting trajectory. Then, the tool tip response under the cutting force is used to predict the machined surface. Finally, a case study is carried out for a fly-cutting machining process, the dynamic response analysis of an ultra-precision fly-cutting machine tool and the machined surface verifies the effectiveness of this method. This research proposes a simplified method to study the IMPMT, the relationships between the machining process and the machine tool are established and the surface generation is obtained.     

Uncertainty assessment of a prototype of multilateration coordinate measurement system

Large Volume Metrology is essential to many high value industries to go towards the factory of the future, but also to many science facilities for fine alignment of large structures. In this context, we have developed a multilateration coordinate measurement system, traceable to SI metre, and suitable for outdoor measurements or industrial environments. It is based on a high accuracy absolute distance meter developed in-house and shared between several measurement heads by fibre-optic links. Thus, from these measurement stations, multiple distance measurements of several positions of a target can be performed. At the end, coordinates of the heads and of the different target locations are determined using a multilateration algorithm with self-calibration.In this paper, the uncertainty of this multilateration coordinate measurement system is determined with a consistent metrological approach. First, 13 different sources of errors are listed and quantified. Then, thanks to Monte Carlo simulations, the standard uncertainty on a single absolute distance measurement is assessed to 4.7 μm. This includes the uncertainty contribution of the telemetric system itself, but also the contributions of the mechanical designs of the measurement heads and the target. Lastly, measurements of three-dimensional coordinates of target positions are performed in a control environment, then in a large workshop without temperature control: these measurements validate the uncertainty assessment of the system.     

多头玻璃烫钻抛光机的结构优化

多头玻璃烫钻抛光机主要用于烫钻底面的精密抛光加工。为了提高加工工件的表面质量,首先从结构动力学的角度出发,研究了多头玻璃烫钻抛光机的动态特性,然后借助ANSYS有限元分析软件,模拟出了该抛光机整机的各阶振型,找到了机床上最易遭到破坏的零部件,最后对该零部件薄弱环节进行了优化。研究结果表明,该方法加强了机床的结构,提升了整机的动态特性,最终达到了改善玻璃烫钻表面加工质量的目的。     

PRS-XY型混联数控机床误差建模及敏感度分析

以PRS-XY型混联数控机床为对象,以加工、装配精度为依据,建立该机床完整的误差模型.设计能反映机床运动精度的典型轨迹,利用该轨迹,通过对该模型的求解和分析,得出主要误差源对机床运动精度的影响.为指导该混联机床的精度设计和误差补偿提供了数据.     

Scheduling optimisation of flexible manufacturing systems using particle swarm optimisation algorithm

The increased use of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) to efficiently provide customers with diversified products has created a significant set of operational challenges. Although extensive research has been conducted on design and operational problems of automated manufacturing systems, many problems remain unsolved. In particular, the scheduling task, the control problem during the operation, is of importance owing to the dynamic nature of the FMS such as flexible parts, tools and automated guided vehicle (AGV) routings. The FMS scheduling problem has been tackled by various traditional optimisation techniques. While these methods can give an optimal solution to small-scale problems, they are often inefficient when applied to larger-scale problems. In this work, different scheduling mechanisms are designed to generate optimum scheduling; these include non-traditional approaches such as genetic algorithm (GA), simulated annealing (SA) algorithm, memetic algorithm (MA) and particle swarm algorithm (PSA) by considering multiple objectives, i.e., minimising the idle time of the machine and minimising the total penalty cost for not meeting the deadline concurrently. The memetic algorithm presented here is essentially a genetic algorithm with an element of simulated annealing. The results of the different optimisation algorithms (memetic algorithm, genetic algorithm, simulated annealing, and particle swarm algorithm) are compared and conclusions are presented .     

Real-time implementation of a deconvolution filter for gamma ray spectroscopy

In this paper, we propose a new approach for real-time detection of pileup in gamma-ray spectroscopy using finite length deconvolution filters; in particular, a 3-point deconvolution with Savitzky Golay prefilter is discussed. The approach was tested and proven to be able to resolve accurately pileup in 93% of the cases. Using the proposed approach, the number of pileup events can be reduced by eight folds. The setup was tested with both simulated data and random signals from a ¹³⁷Cs test source. More specifically, gamma pulses, from a 2 inch NaI(TI) scintillation detector, were captured as single and double pulses for the purpose of testing the proposed peak detection algorithm. The algorithms developed here were then implemented in real time using a high performance floating-point processor, the TMS320C6711. A number of optimisation levels were achieved using the Code Composer Studio profiler based on critical timing to satisfy the real-time constraints of gamma-ray spectroscopy systems. A comparison in complexity and real time computations among various deconvolution algorithms has been carried using the TMS320C6711 processor.     

Application of ACO-BPN to thermal error modeling of NC machine tool

Thermal errors are the major contributor to the dimensional errors of a workpiece in precision machining. Error compensation technique is a cost-effective way to reduce thermal errors. Accurate modeling of errors is a prerequisite of error compensation. In this paper, four key temperature points of a NC machine tool were obtained based on clustering method. A thermal error model based on the four key temperature points was proposed by using ant colony algorithm-based back propagation neural network (ACO-BPN). The ACO-BPN method improves the prediction accuracy of thermal deformation in the NC machine tool. A thermal error compensation system was developed based on the proposed model, and which has been applied to the NC machine tool in daily production. The results show that the thermal drift in workpiece diameter has been reduced from 33 to 8 μm from its center of tolerance.     

数控机床的数字化全闭环控制

针对发展国产高精度数控机床的需求，提出一种数字化全闭环控制方法，开发出新型数字化全闭环位置控制系统，实现了以数字驱动、数字检测和数字位控为特征的全数字化刀具轨迹控制，有效保证了数控机床的加工精度。该系统已在多种国产数控机床上进行了应用，在复杂精密零件加工方面取得良好效果。     

精密数控机床的转角-线位移双闭环位置控制系统

研究出一种双位置闭环高精度伺服控制技术,并结合国情开发了用于高精度数控机床的新型双闭环位置控制系统。该系统可对各种类型的数控机床实现以高精度、高稳定性和优良的动态性能为特征的全闭环位置控制。应用于数十台国产数控机床上,在复杂模具零件和精密孔系零件加工方面取得良好效果。     

基于视觉定位的高精度多功能贴片机技术

本文介绍了一种基于视觉定位系统的高精度多功能SMT站片机技术。它通过视觉识别系统对不同元件进行视觉识别,能高速高精度贴装微小片状元件、精细IC元件或异形元件。该机具有自动化水平高．操作方便,运行平稳等特点。其贴装精度、识别元件范围、贴装建成等性能达到国际水平。