System for determining a state of a tool positioning machine

A method for deriving machine state information for at least a part of a tool positioning machine embodied as manipulating machine, optionally a machine tool, or as coordinate measuring machine, the tool positioning machine defining a machine coordinate system and having:

• a base, and
• a machine structure, optionally a portal or Scara-type machine structure, comprising:
• a tool head,
• structural components for linking the tool head to the base,
• at least one drive mechanism for providing movability of the machine structure relative to the base,
• a position determining system for deriving at least one coordinate of the machine structure in the machine coordinate system, and
• a controlling unit adapted for controlling movement of the machine structure,
• wherein the method comprises providing a calibration setup which comprises at least two calibration components which are provided by:
• a touch tool, and
• a calibration artefact,
• wherein:
• one of the at least two calibration components is mounted on the machine structure and defines a moveable reference point an actual coordinate of which is derivable by means of the position determining system,
• another one of the at least two calibration components is arranged with defined spatial relation to the base and provides a nominal calibration position,
• the calibration artefact comprises at least two touching regions which are aligned transverse to one another and which define the nominal calibration position,
• the calibration artefact and the touch tool are moved by means of the machine structure relative to each other so that simultaneous contact of the touch tool with the at least two touching regions is provided, and
• the machine state information is derived by:
• the actual coordinate of the moveable reference point while simultaneous contact of the touch tool with the at least two touching regions is provided, and
• the nominal calibration position.