An improved machine tool volumetric error compensation method based on linear and squareness error correction method

Error compensation is one of effective and economical means to improve the machining accuracy of machine tools. The measurement accuracy of kinematic errors has great impact on the accuracy of machine tool error modeling. Some measurement errors are inevitably generated due to the distortion of the slide table and the limit of local measuring stroke. To solve these problems, an improved machine tool volumetric error compensation method is proposed in this paper, based on linear and squareness error correction method. The linear errors, including position errors and straightness errors, are corrected by considering the distance effect between optical mirror groups and the surface of worktable. The squareness errors are corrected through modifying local squareness errors measured with double ball bar to global squareness errors, with the aid of straightness errors measured with multi-laser calibrator. Then volumetric errors are obtained based on multi-body system theory, and volumetric diagonal errors are measured with laser interferometer. It is illustrated that the bidirectional systematic deviation of positioning of four volumetric diagonals reduced about 81.3%, 35.2%, 29.2%, and 4.5% respectively by using this improved machine tool volumetric error compensation method, and it is of obvious advantages in contrast with traditional compensation method with direct measurement data. The improved error compensation method proposed in this paper has universal applicability and has great significance on machine tool accuracy improvement.