Quantitative evaluation method for machining accuracy retention of CNC machine tools considering degenerate trajectory fluctuation

Accuracy retention is an important performance index of CNC machine tools. At present, research on the evaluation of machining accuracy retention of CNC machine tools mainly focuses on accuracy value of a fixed time point or different time periods, but studies on the fluctuation degree of degradation trajectory related to time change are limited. Extracting simple and effective degradation characteristics of machining accuracy and then evaluating machining accuracy retention considering fluctuation of degradation trajectory are necessary. The volume error model of CNC machine tools is established on the basis of multibody system theory in this study. Three-dimensional volume error vector is transformed into one-dimensional machining accuracy degradation by calculating offset distance between spatial error and origin points. Degradation data obtained via regular measurement and calculation are used to establish the complete degradation trajectory model of the CNC machine tools machining accuracy using radial basis function interpolation method according to the fluctuation degree of degradation trajectory, and concepts of average degradation rate and average degradation amount are defined. Lastly, examples showed that these two indicators can intuitively reflect fluctuation degree of machining accuracy degradation of CNC machine tools and effectively and quantitatively evaluate accuracy retention of CNC machine tools. The quantitative evaluation method of accuracy retention of CNC machine tools defined in this study considers the fluctuation degree of accuracy degradation trajectory. The quantitative evaluation index of accuracy retention demonstrates satisfactory engineering application because it can reflect not only the accuracy change of a single machine tool but also accurately compare the accuracy retention between different machine tools.