Increasing 5-axis accuracy by probing, auto-tuning

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Today's probes are accurate, robust, affordable

As outlined in the previous steps, 5-axis auto-tuning requires that probing be installed in the tools. Many shops continue to resist using probes. When probes were in their infancy, there frequently were inaccuracies in their trigger mechanisms, machine tool interfaces and available software. However, in the past 10 years, probes have come a long way. Today, developments in probe trigger mechanisms make them as accurate as CMMs. They are also much more robust and affordable, and eliminate human error.

When used with standard machine tool probing software, a typical probe is fairly simple in functionality, although today’s PC-based controls offer the use of aftermarket software as well. Many probe manufacturers have developed their own software packages that can be loaded onto PC-based controls to take advantage of special applications not available from the machine tool manufacturer, such as an application for “manual/graphic” user interfaces for rapid part checks without the need to write an involved probing program. Users can utilise very complicated programming for part probing and customise to a much greater degree. Today’s extremely accurate probes match the accuracies of current machine tools, opening the door to new possibilities, like 5-axis auto-tuning.

This article first appeared in Mold Making Technology, moldmakingtechnology.com, reprint courtesy of Gardner Business Media, Cincinnati, Ohio, US.

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