Comprehensive error measurement and compensation method for equivalent cutting forces

To determine the error compensation for cutting forces with a machine tool, this paper proposes a comprehensive error compensation method that determines an equivalent cutting force. The loading system that applies this equivalent cutting force was designed to load a constant force that imitates the actual cutting force of a machine tool. The equivalent cutting force, when applied to the working table of the machine tool, induces an error that can be directly measured by a laser interferometer. Moreover, a stable measurement environment suitable for laser interferometer is configured. A comprehensive error compensation model of a three-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machine tool was developed using multi-body systems theory and homogeneous transformation matrices. Solutions for the error compensation model and parametric equation were automatically found using MATLAB, based on this model. The effectiveness of this compensation method has been confirmed by machining experiments. The experimental results show that this comprehensive error compensation of the equivalent cutting force can greatly improve machining accuracy.