Radial error measuring device based on auto-collimation for miniature ultra-high-speed spindles

This study has developed a radial error measuring device for miniature ultra-high-speed spindles because it is very difficult to measure the radial error motion of miniature ultra-high-speed spindles by the conventional measurement method using capacitive-type displacement sensors. The authors have proposed an optical measurement method based on auto-collimation, which evaluates the radial error motion according to the movements of a laser beam reflected from a target sphere attached to the spindle end. This optical measurement method is suitable for radial error measurements of miniature ultra-high-speed spindles because of its applicability to a small target sphere, high-speed response and minor susceptibility to electric noise. In this paper, the measurement principle, and basic characteristics of the optical measurement method in addition to an approximate analysis are shown. The radial error motion of a miniature ultra-high-speed spindle with a steel ball 1 mm in diameter are measured by an optical measuring device designed and manufactured to implement the proposed method. The measurement results show that the optical measuring device is able to measure the radial error motion of ultra-high-speed spindles with a maximum rotational speed of 200 krpm.