A study on machine calibration techniques

A coordinate measuring machine (CMM) with two linear axes and an articulated arm has been developed for on machine in situ measurement of just machined workpieces. Some techniques for calibrating the CMM parameters, such as the arm and stylus lengths, offsets, parallelism and squareness errors between axes, as well as zero positions of the articulated arm and stylus, have been worked out, which are essential for assuring high accuracy of the CMM. The effectiveness of the proposed calibration techniques has been proved by experiments and practice.