Five-axis CNC machine tools are widely used in manufacturing of parts with free-form surfaces. Geometric errors of machine tools have significant effects on the quality of manufactured parts. This research focuses on development of a new method to accurately identify geometric errors of 5-axis CNC machines, especially the errors due to rotary axes, using the magnetic double ball bar. A theoretical model for identification of geometric errors is provided. In this model, both position-independent errors and position-dependent errors are considered as the error sources. This model is simplified by identification and removal of the correlated and insignificant error sources of the machine. Insignificant error sources are identified using the sensitivity analysis technique. Simulation results reveal that the simplified error identification model can result in more accurate estimations of the error parameters. Experiments on a 5-axis CNC machine tool also demonstrate significant reduction in the volumetric error after error compensation.
Free-form surfaces are widely used in many applications in today's industry. This paper presents a new approach to identify and compensate process-related errors in machining of free-form surfaces. The process-related errors are identified online by a newly developed in-process inspection technique. In this technique, the surface is first machined through an intermediate semi-finishing process that is specifically designed to machine different geometric shapes on the surface with different process parameters. An inspection method is developed to identify the process-related errors in the selected regions on the semi-finished surface. The relationship between the machining/surface parameters and process-related error is then achieved using a neural network. This relationship is used to predict the process-related errors in the finishing process. The process-related errors, together with the machine tool geometric errors identified using a method developed in our previous work, are compensated in the finishing tool paths through tool path re-planning. Experiment has been conducted to machine a part with a free-form surface to show the improvements in the machining accuracy.
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