Improving the Accuracy of a Machine Tool with Three Linear Axes using a Laser Tracker as Measurement System

This paper presents a real way to improve machine tool accuracy using interferometry techniques based on laser tracker as measurement system. This is based on an indirect measurement of the geometric error of the MT; characterizing their combined effect though volumetric verification.This technique can be used to verify all types of machine through its kinematic model, relating measured points with the laser tracker and nominal points. Using non-lineal optimization techniques the difference between pair of points are reduced. Finally, it provides the approximation functions of the machine tool geometric errors used to compensate theirs influence on MT accuracy.As it is a mathematical compensation result of an optimization procedure, the improvement on MT accuracy should be validate using the same or external measurement system. This paper shows that volumetric verification provides an real improvement of the MT accuracy.