Method for determining effective coefficient of thermal expansion

A method for calibrating a machine to compensate for thermal expansion/contraction thereof, characterized in that said method comprises the steps of:

• (a) determining an effective thermal coefficient of said machine;
• (b) generating a machine thermal compensation value for at least one of a predetermined number of preselected position values to calibrate the machine, said machine thermal compensation value being based on said effective thermal coefficient of said machine;
• further characterized in that said step of determining an effective thermal coefficient of said machine further comprises the steps of:
• (c) selecting at least one predetermined location on said machine to monitor temperature during a test period;
• (d) monitoring a distance between a first portion of said machine and a second portion of said machine;
• (e) acquiring a temperature reading at said at least one predetermined location;
• (f) recording aid distance and said temperature reading when said temperature reading is acquired and associating said distance with said temperature reading;
• (g) repeating said steps (d)-(t) until said test period has expired;
• (h) determining whether a sufficiently linear relationship exists between said distances and said temperature readings recorded in step (f);
• (i) repeating aid steps (c)-(h) until said sufficiently linear relationship exists;
• and,
• (j) selecting said effective thermal coefficient based upon said linear relationship.