A novel spindle inclination error identification and compensation method in ultra-precision raster milling

• Spindle inclination error can be amplified and reflected on the bottom of grooves.
• The spindle inclination error can be identified by the tilt angle of ICTT.
• Cutting parameters have different effects on the tilt angle of ICTT.
• Smaller tool radius and larger groove depth is helpful to identify the error.

In the ultra-precision raster milling (UPRM) process, the existence of spindle inclination error can directly affect the dimensional accuracy of machined components. This study developed a novel spindle inclination error identification and compensation method based on the groove cutting in UPRM. In this method, the tilt angle of the intersection curve of two toruses (ICTT) generated from two neighboring rotary cuts in UPRM was measured to identify the spindle inclination error. A mathematical model was developed to simulate the ICTT profile and present the relationship between the tilt angle of ICTTs and the spindle inclination error by solving the differential of the ICTT function, by which the spindle inclination error can be solved under the given cutting parameters and the tilt angle of ICTTs. The effects of cutting parameters on the tilt angle of ICTTs were explored. An error compensation procedure was designed and a group of groove cutting experiments was conducted to identify and compensate the spindle inclination error. The theoretical and experimental results show that the proposed method can compensate for the spindle inclination error effectively and accurately.