Automated calibration of a production machine

A production machine system, comprising:

• a production machine comprising multiple axes and multiple position-controlled drives connecting machine elements, with the drives and the machine elements forming a kinematic chain;
• a control facility storing a model of the machine elements, said model comprising a model parameter of the machine elements,
• the control facility configured to
• before calibration, move the multiple axes to predetermined positions which assures that no collisions between machine elements occur,
• set for each of the axes a respective range for a maximum excursion,
• move a first machine element connected between a first axis and a second axis within the respective range defined for the first axis and record an actual movement of the second axis of the first machine element with a tracking interferometer, said actual movement of the second axis of the first machine element performing a circular arc around the first axis,
• correct the model parameter for the first machine element based on a comparison of the model of the production machine stored in the control facility with the actual movement of the second axis of the first machine element,
• move a further machine element connected downstream of the second axis between the second axis and a further axis within the respective range defined for the second axis and record an actual movement of the further axis of the further machine element with the tracking interferometer, said actual movement of the further axis of the further machine element performing a circular arc around the second axis,
• correct the model parameter for the further machine element based on a comparison of the model of the production machine stored in the control facility with the actual movement of the further axis of the further machine element,
• repeat moving, recording and correcting for each additional further downstream-connected machine element successively along the kinematic chain until all axes involved in a movement of an end effector have been calibrated.