Control-integrated function facilitates multi-axis kinematic analysis on SINUMERIK 840D sl

Machine tools have to be regularly checked and calibrated in order to meet the high accuracy requirements for workpieces. Production machines with rotational axis kinematics are capable of machining angled and free-form surfaces with minimal retooling. To use rotational axis kinematics, the geometry must be stored in the CNC system in the form of machine parameters. As simply copying over computer-based transformation data is not sufficient for this process, every machine is analyzed individually.

Until recently, the rotational axes were often analyzed manually. This involved additional measuring instruments, was time-intensive and required expert knowledge. Furthermore, the measurements could only be reproduced to a limited degree and required a lot of setup effort. Now CNC Design is offering the new Cycle996 measuring cycle for the SINUERMIK 840D sl as a breakthrough for analyzing multiaxis kinematics. The cycle can be used both for the initial analysis and also for recalibration. A calibration sphere with software support is analyzed at three random positions of the respective rotational axis. The results are then used to calculate the vectors (lever arms and orientations) of the individual axes.

The process was tested on different milling and grinding machine kinematics. The results were impressive, demonstrating extremely high measuring accuracy. Compared with conventional methods, which take about a day to carry out, measurement using Cycle996 only takes about ten minutes including calibration. The measured values are available as result parameters in the control system itself and can also be compared with existing values. The measuring accuracy is the same as the tolerance of the calibration sphere and the 3D measuring probe.

Cycle996 offers numerous advantages over conventional procedures: measurement is simple and does not require expensive equipment. The only requirements are the use of control-integrated measuring cycles, a calibrated 3D measuring probe and a calibration sphere. Cycle996 can also be used in handling systems, water jet and laser cutting machines that use kinematic transformations. Precision is improved, setup times are reduced, and productivity is significantly increased.