Prediction of thermal effects on machine tool volumetric error

Abstract

Since a significant and possibly major part of machine tool error is caused by thermal deformation, its compensation has high priority as an accuracy increasing tool. Various methods of compensation have been developed including a dynamic method using transfer functions. Such a method, with relatively minor calibration requirements, is proven to be reliable in the prediction of thermally induced error at one point of a machine tool workspace. This paper focuses on extending the method usability across the workspace. A possibility of extrapolating the predicted deviation of a tool in the direction of Z axis in the calibrated location to the whole workspace is examined. The concept verification on data provided by recently developed volumetric measurement method is presented. Furthermore, data obtained by volumetric measurement of kinematically different machine tool are introduced.