Volumetric accuracy evaluation for five-axis machine tools by modeling spherical deviation based on double ball-bar kinematic test

This paper presents a new spherical deviation measurement method to evaluate the volumetric accuracy of five-axis machine tools based on double ball-bar measurements. Nine circular test paths with three kinds of tool axis directions in XY, YZ and ZX planes are planned to construct a typical sphere. The radial deviations measured by ball-bar are used to calculate the spherical deviation, which is defined as the maximum radial range of deviations around a least-squares sphere. Compared to the circular deviation described in ISO10791.6, which could only reflect the errors in one test path with one kinds of tool axis direction separately, the proposed method can reflect not only each test path's error, but also the offset errors between different test paths. And it could comprehensively quantify the effect of accuracies of the five axes together in three-dimensional space. The proposed method for five-axis machine tool can not only reflect the tool center position errors caused by three linear axes, but also indicate the tool axis direction errors caused by two rotary axes. The proposed method is verified through simulations and experiments on a five-axis machine tool.