Relationships between straightness and angular kinematic errors in machines

The software compensation approach for the improvement of machine tool and coordinate measuring machine accuracy depend to some extent on machine error modelling and measurement methodologies. The currently established methodology is based on the derivation of tool position error (for machine tools) or stylus tip position error (for coordinate measuring machines) by the combination of individual axis joint kinematic error parameters. The purpose of this paper is to propose a machine error analysis based on error classification. This taxonomic approach forms a conceptual basis for an analysis of machine errors with a deeper understanding of error mechanisms at more fundamental levels. The relevance of this approach is investigated through the case study of the coupling mechanism between joint kinematic angular and straightness errors of machine linear axes. The limitations of the joint kinematic straightness and angular error modelling based on purely abstract mathematical dependence principles are explored through simulations and experiments. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.