Geometric Error Identification of Gantry-Type CNC Machine Tool Based on Multi-Station Synchronization Laser Tracers

Laser tracers are a three-dimensional coordinate measurement system that are widely used in industrial measurement.We propose a geometric error identification method based on multi-station synchronization laser tracers to enable the rapid and high-precision measurement of geometric errors for gantry-type computer numerical control(CNC)machine tools.This method also improves on the existing measurement efficiency issues in the single-base station measurement method and multi-base station time-sharing measurement method.We consider a three-axis gantry-type CNC machine tool,and the geometric error mathematical model is derived and established based on the combination of screw theory and a topological analysis of the machine kinematic chain.The four-station laser tracers position and measurement points are realized based on the multi-point positioning principle.A self-calibration algorithm is proposed for the coordinate calibration process of a laser tracer using the Levenberg-Marquardt nonlinear least squares method,and the geometric error is solved using Taylor’s first-order linearization iteration.The experimental results show that the geometric error calculated based on this modeling method is comparable to the results from the Etalon laser tracer.For a volume of 800 mm×1000 mm×350 mm,the maximum differences of the linear,angular,and spatial position errors were 2.0μm,2.7μrad,and 12.0μm,respectively,which verifies the accuracy of the proposed algorithm.This research proposes a modeling method for the precise measurement of errors in machine tools,and the applied nature of this study also makes it relevant both to researchers and those in the industrial sector.

Numerical Investigation of Thermal Behavior of CNC Machine Tool and Its Effects on Dimensional Accuracy of Machined Parts

The dimensional accuracy of machined parts is strongly influenced by the thermal behavior of machine tools (MT). Minimizing this influence represents a key objective for any modern manufacturing industry. Thermally induced positioning error compensation remains the most effective and practical method in this context. However, the efficiency of the compensation process depends on the quality of the model used to predict the thermal errors. The model should consistently reflect the relationships between temperature distribution in the MT structure and thermally induced positioning errors. A judicious choice of the number and location of temperature sensitive points to represent heat distribution is a key factor for robust thermal error modeling. Therefore, in this paper, the temperature sensitive points are selected following a structured thermomechanical analysis carried out to evaluate the effects of various temperature gradients on MT structure deformation intensity. The MT thermal behavior is first modeled using finite element method and validated by various experimentally measured temperature fields using temperature sensors and thermal imaging. MT Thermal behavior validation shows a maximum error of less than 10% when comparing the numerical estimations with the experimental results even under changing operation conditions. The numerical model is used through several series of simulations carried out using varied working condition to explore possible relationships between temperature distribution and thermal deformation characteristics to select the most appropriate temperature sensitive points that will be considered for building an empirical prediction model for thermal errors as function of MT thermal state. Validation tests achieved using an artificial neural network based simplified model confirmed the efficiency of the proposed temperature sensitive points allowing the prediction of the thermally induced errors with an accuracy greater than 90%.

WORKPIECE LOCATING AND POST PROCESSING SYSTEMS ON 6-DOF CNC MILLING MACHINE

A conventional non-computerized numerical control （CNC） machine is updated by mounting a six degree-of-free （DOF） parallel mechanism on it, thus obtaining a new CNC one. The structure of this CNC milling machine is introduced, and the workpiece locating system and the post processing system of the cutter location （CL） data file are analyzed. The new machine has advantages of low costs, simple structure, good rigidity, and high precision. It is easy to be transformed and used to process the workpiece with a complex surface.

CPS Modeling of CNC Machine Tool Work Processes Using an Instruction-Domain Based Approach

Building cyber-physical system(CPS) models of machine tools is a key technology for intelligent manufacturing. The massive electronic data from a computer numerical control(CNC) system during the work processes of a CNC machine tool is the main source of the big data on which a CPS model is established. In this work-process model, a method based on instruction domain is applied to analyze the electronic big data, and a quantitative description of the numerical control(NC) processes is built according to the G code of the processes. Utilizing the instruction domain, a work-process CPS model is established on the basis of the accurate, real-time mapping of the manufacturing tasks, resources, and status of the CNC machine tool. Using such models, case studies are conducted on intelligent-machining applications, such as the optimization of NC processing parameters and the health assurance of CNC machine tools.

Actualities and Development of Heavy-Duty CNC Machine Tool Thermal Error Monitoring Technology

Thermal error monitoring technology is the key technological support to solve the thermal error problem of heavy-duty CNC （computer numerical control） machine tools. Currently, there are many review literatures intro- ducing the thermal error research of CNC machine tools, but those mainly focus on the thermal issues in small and medium-sized CNC machine tools and seldom introduce thermal error monitoring technologies. This paper gives an overview of the research on the thermal error of CNC machine tools and emphasizes the study of thermal error of the heavy-duty CNC machine tool in three areas. These areas are the causes of thermal error of heavy-duty CNC machine tool and the issues with the temperature moni- toring technology and thermal deformation monitoring technology. A new optical measurement technology called the ＂fiber Bragg grating （FBG） distributed sensing tech- nology＂ for heavy-duty CNC machine tools is introduced in detail. This technology forms an intelligent sensing and monitoring system for heavy-duty CNC machine tools. This paper fills in the blank of this kind of review articlesto guide the development of this industry field and opens up new areas of research on the heavy-duty CNC machine tool thermal error.

Modeling Method for Flexible Energy Behaviors in CNC Machining Systems

CNC machining systems are inevitably confronted with frequent changes in energy behaviors because they are widely used to perform various machining tasks. It is a challenge to understand and analyze the flexible energy behaviors in CNC machining systems. A method to model flexible energy behaviors in CNC machining systems based on hierarchical objected-oriented Petri net(HOONet) is proposed. The structure of the HOONet is constructed of a high-level model and detail models. The former is used to model operational states for CNC machining systems, and the latter is used to analyze the component models for operational states. The machining parameters having great impacts on energy behaviors in CNC machining systems are declared with the data dictionary in HOONet models. A case study based on a CNC lathe is presented to demonstrate the proposed modeling method. The results show that it is effective for modeling flexible energy behaviors and providing a fine-grained description to quantitatively analyze the energy consumption of CNC machining systems.

Design and Accuracy Analysis of a Metamorphic CNC Flame Cutting Machine for Ship Manufacturing

The current research of processing large size fabrication holes on complex spatial curved surface mainly focuses on the CNC flame cutting machines design for ship hull of ship manufacturing. However, the existing machines cannot meet the continuous cutting requirements with variable pass conditions through their fixed configuration, and cannot realize high-precision processing as the accuracy theory is not studied adequately. This paper deals with structure design and accuracy prediction technology of novel machine tools for solving the problem of continuous and high-precision cutting. The needed variable trajectory and variable pose kinematic characteristics of non-contact cutting tool are figured out and a metamorphic CNC flame cutting machine designed through metamorphic principle is presented. To analyze kinematic accuracy of the machine, models of joint clearances, manufacturing tolerances and errors in the input variables and error models considering the combined effects are derived based on screw theory after establishing ideal kinematic models. Numerical simulations, processing experiment and trajectory tracking experiment are conducted relative to an eccentric hole with bevels on cylindrical surface respectively. The results of cutting pass contour and kinematic error interval which the position error is from -0.975 mm to ＋0.628 mm and orientation error is from -0.01 rad to ＋0.01 rad indicate that the developed machine can complete cutting process continuously and effectively, and the established kinematic error models are effective although the interval is within a ＇large＇ range. It also shows the matching property between metamorphic principle and variable working tasks, and the mapping correlation between original designing parameters and kinematic errors of machines. This research develops a metamorphic CNC flame cutting machine and establishes kinematic error models for accuracy analysis of machine tools.

Modeling Approach of Regression Orthogonal Experiment Design for Thermal Error Compensation of CNC Turning Center

The thermal induced errors can account for as much as 70% of the dimensional errors on a workpiece. Accurate modeling of errors is an essential part of error compensation. Base on analyzing the existing approaches of the thermal error modeling for machine tools, a new approach of regression orthogonal design is proposed, which combines the statistic theory with machine structures, surrounding condition, engineering judgements, and experience in modeling. A whole computation and analysis procedure is given. Therefore, the model got from this method are more robust and practical than those got from the present method that depends on the modeling data completely. At last more than 100 applications of CNC turning center with only one thermal error model are given. The cutting diameter variation reduces from more than 35 μm to about 12 μm with the orthogonal regression modeling and compensation of thermal error.

Thermal Error Modeling Method with the Jamming of Temperature-Sensitive Points'Volatility on CNC Machine Tools

Aiming at the deficiency of the robustness of thermal error compensation models of CNC machine tools, the mechanism of improving the models＇ robustness is studied by regarding the Leaderway-V450 machining center as the object. Through the analysis of actual spindle air cutting experimental data on Leaderway-V450 machine, it is found that the temperature-sensitive points used for modeling is volatility, and this volatility directly leads to large changes on the collinear degree among modeling independent variables. Thus, the forecasting accuracy of multivariate regression model is severely affected, and the forecasting robustness becomes poor too. To overcome this effect, a modeling method of establishing thermal error models by using single temperature variable under the jamming of temperature-sensitive points＇ volatility is put forward. According to the actual data of thermal error measured in different seasons, it is proved that the single temperature variable model can reduce the loss of fore- casting accuracy resulted from the volatility of tempera- ture-sensitive points, especially for the prediction of cross quarter data, the improvement of forecasting accuracy is about 5 μm or more. The purpose that improving the robustness of the thermal error models is realized, which can provide a reference for selecting the modelingindependent variable in the application of thermal error compensation of CNC machine tools.

Reliability Analysis of Electrical System of CNC Machine Tool Based on Dynamic Fault Tree Analysis Method

The electrical system of CNC machine tool is very complex which involves many uncertain factors and dynamic stochastic characteristics when failure occurs.Therefore,the traditional system reliability analysis method,fault tree analysis(FTA)method,based on static logic and static failure mechanism is no longer applicable for dynamic systems reliability analysis.Dynamic fault tree(DFT)analysis method can solve this problem effectively.In this method,DFT first should be pretreated to get a simplified fault tree(FT);then the FT was modularized to get the independent static subtrees and dynamic subtrees.Binary decision diagram(BDD)analysis method was used to analyze static subtrees,while an approximation algorithm was used to deal with dynamic subtrees.When the scale of each subtree is smaller than the system scale,the analysis efficiency can be improved significantly.At last,the usefulness of this DFT analysis method was proved by applying it to analyzing the reliability of electrical system.

Development of CAD/CAM system and profile measuring device for CNC grinding machine to obtain an optimal grinding speed

Cam mechanics is one of the most popular devices for generating irregular motions and is widely used in automatic equipment,such as textile machines,internal combustion engines,and other automatic devices.In order to obtain a positive motion from the follower using a rotating cam,its shape should be correctly designed and manufactured.The development of an adequate CAD/CAM system for a cam profile CNC grinding machine is necessary to manufacture high-precision cams.The purpose of this study is the development of a CAD/CAM system and profile measuring device for a CNC grinding machine to obtain an optimal grinding speed with a constant surface roughness.Three types of disk cams were manufactured using the proposed algorithm and procedures to verify effectiveness of the developed CAD/CAM system.

An Open CAM System for Dentistry on the Basis of China-made 5-axis Simultaneous Contouring CNC Machine Tool and Industrial CAM Software

China-made 5-axis simultaneous contouring CNC machine tool and domestically developed industrial computer-aided manufacture （CAM） technology were used for full crown fabrication and measurement of crown accuracy, with an attempt to establish an open CAM system for dental processing and to promote the introduction of domestic dental computer-aided design （CAD）/CAM system. Commercially available scanning equipment was used to make a basic digital tooth model after preparation of crown, and CAD software that comes with the scanning device was employed to design the crown by using domestic industrial CAM software to process the crown data in order to generate a solid model for machining purpose, and then China-made 5-axis simultaneous contouring CNC machine tool was used to complete machining of the whole crown and the internal accuracy of the crown internal was measured by using 3D-MicroCT. The results showed that China-made 5-axis simultaneous contouring CNC machine tool in combination with domestic industrial CAM technology can be used for crown making and the crown was well positioned in die. The internal accuracy was successfully measured by using 3D-MicroCT. It is concluded that an open CAM system for den-tistry on the basis of China-made 5-axis simultaneous contouring CNC machine tool and domestic industrial CAM software has been established, and development of the system will promote the introduction of domestically-produced dental CAD/CAM system.

Application of MBAM Neural Network in CNC Machine Fault Diagnosis

In order to improve the bidirectional associative memory(BAM) performance, a modified BAM model(MBAM) is used to enhance neural network(NN)’s memory capacity and error correction capability, theoretical analysis and experiment results illuminate that MBAM performs much better than the original BAM. The MBAM is used in computer numeric control(CNC) machine fault diagnosis, it not only can complete fault diagnosis correctly but also have fairly high error correction capability for disturbed Input Information sequence.Moreover MBAM model is a more convenient and effective method of solving the problem of CNC electric system fault diagnosis.

OPTIMAL FEED RATE CONTROL FOR MULTI-AXIS CNC MACHINING OF FREE FORM SURFACES

Considering machining efficiency, surface quality and wear of cutter and machine, it is necessary to maintain high, stable and constant surface feed rate as far as possible.The feed late control strategy for multi-axis CNC machining of free-form surfaces is presented. It comprises: ①the determination of effective feed rate; ②the adoption of suitable approaches to smooth feed rate. This strategy considers path geometry, actuator limitation and machine dynamics. The result shows that machining efficiency is improved effectively.

The Innovation of CNC Machine Interface Based on DNC System

This paper describes the innovation schemes of the interface of a CNC machine which cannot communicate with a computer by a Direct Numerical Control(DNC)interface and the functions of a DNC interface system.One architecture of hardware and software of a practi- cal single-chip computer based on DNC interface system developed by the authors is given. Without any change of the original hardware and software,this DNC interface system has been used to innovate the CNC machine's interface to implement the direct communication between a computer and a CNC machine and to achieve no tape transmission of a part program and ma- chine parameters.It has been demonstrated that this DNC interface system has certain practical values in improving the reliability,efficiency and production management of CNC/NC machine.

A-B 7300 CNC Machine Tool Rebuilding

This paper describes A-B 7300 CNC machine tool rebuilding, mainly in PAL and AMP utilization of C-type software. It includes PAL program locating and analyzing, AMP capturing etc. After setting PAL and AMP, the greater part of the electrical rebuilding has been accomplished.

The Research of CNC Machining Cutter Choice Based on CAXA

The article introduces the unique characteristics of CNC machining center cutter compared to traditional cutters, analyzes the choice of CNC machining cutter and factors of choice. Meanwhile, proved by the examples with manufacture software CAXA2004, the correct choice of CNC machining center cutter can give full play to the advantages of CNC machining and improve the economic efficiency and production levels of enterprises.

Dynamic Modeling of the Feed Drive System of a CNC Metal Cutting Machine

Studying the vibrational behavior of feed drive systems is important for enhancing the structural performance of computer numerical control(CNC)machines.The preload on the screw and nut position have a great influence on the vibration characteristics of the feed drive as two very important operational conditions.Rotational acceleration of the screw also affects the performance of the CNC feed drive when machining small parts.This paper investigates the influence of preload and nut position on the vibration characteristics of the feed drive system of a CNC metal cutting machine in order to be able to eliminate an observed resonance occurred at high rotational speeds of the screw,corresponding to high feed rates.Additionally,rational structural parameters of the feed drive system are selected in order to increase the rotational acceleration for improving the performance of the CNC machine.Experiments and analyses showed that by selecting specific parameters of feed drive system and simultaneously applying a certain value of preload,a 97%increase in rotational acceleration and 30%time reduction considering the vibration resistance at high rotational speeds can be achieved.

OPEN ARCHITECTURE CNC SYSTEM HITCNC AND KEY TECHNOLOGY

Aiming at the characteristics of modularity and reconfigurable in open architecture computer numerical control （CNC） system, the open architecture CNC system, Harbin Institute of Tech- nology computer numerical control （HITCNC）, is researched and manufactured based on the interface standards. The system＇s external interfaces are coincident with the corresponding international standards, and the internal interfaces follow the open modular architecture controller （OMAC） agreement. In the research and manufacturing process, object-oriented technology is used to ensure the openness of the HITCNC, and static programming is applied in the CNC system according to the idea of modularization disassembly. The HITCNC also actualizes real-time and unreal-time modules adopting real-time dynamical linked library （RTDLL） and component object model （COM）. Finite state ma- chine （FSM） is adopted to do dynamically modeling of HITCNC. The complete separation between the software and the hardware is achieved in the HITCNC by applying the SoftSERCANS technique. The application of the above key techniques decreases the programming workload greatly, and uses software programs replacing hardware functions, which offers plenty technique ensures for the openness of HITCNC. Finally, based on the HITCNC, a three-dimensional milling system is established. On the system, series experiments are done to validate the expandability and interchangeability of HITCNC. The results of the experiments show that the established open architecture CNC system HITCNC is correct and feasible, and has good openness.

Reliability Analysis of Heavy-Duty CNC Machine Hydraulic System Based on Fuzzy Goal Oriented Method

There is a common sense that heavy-duty CNC machine strongly depends on its foundation and can be easily affected by many factors.Hydraulic system,the most important part in CNC machine,is a complex and multi-loop system.In order to make up for the shortcomings of traditional fault tree analysis method and traditional GO method,the most effective method named fuzzy GO method is proposed to analyze the reliability of hydraulic system.And then some ideas are provided for system reliability assessment,fault diagnosis and maintenance by qualitative and quantitative analysis.