System and method for error correction for CNC machines
AssigneeFidia S.p.A.
InventorsGiuseppe Morfino, Augusto Mignani
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of determining a positioning error of a CNC machine is provided and an system thereof. A calibration element is placed within the CNC machine. A first sensor reading is taken of the calibration element. A second sensor reading is taken and the sensor is moved in a manner that the difference between the first and second sensor data decreases until the difference becomes less or equal to a pre-determined threshold value. A positioning error of the tool head is determined based on the movement of the sensor.
Claims21
A method for determining a positioning error of a computerized numerical control (CNC) machine, wherein the CNC machine is equipped with a calibration element, the calibration element being in a first position, the method comprising the steps of:
- reading first sensor data from at least one sensor while the calibration element is at the first position, the sensor data corresponding to a distance associated with the calibration element;
- operating the CNC machine to perform a calibration movement while the calibration element remains generally at the first position;
- reading second sensor data from the at least one sensor while the calibration element is at a second position, the second position denoting the actual position of the calibration element after the calibration movement has been performed;
- causing the at least one sensor to move so that the difference between the first and second sensor data decreases until the difference becomes less than or equal to a pre-determined threshold value, wherein the at least one sensor comprises or is mounted to a movement element for moving the at least one sensor;
- and
- determining a positioning error of the CNC machine based on the movement of the at least one sensor.
A method for improving the accuracy of a computerized numerical control (CNC) machine, the method comprising:
- reading first sensor data from at least one sensor while the calibration element is at the first position, the sensor data corresponding to a distance associated with the calibration element;
- operating the CNC machine to perform a calibration movement while the calibration element remains generally at the first position;
- reading second sensor data from the at least one sensor while the calibration element is at a second position, the second position denoting the actual position of the calibration element after the calibration movement has been performed;
- causing the at least one sensor to move so that the difference between the first and second sensor data decreases until the difference becomes less than or equal to a pre-determined threshold value, wherein the at least one sensor comprises or is mounted to a movement element for moving the at least one sensor;
- and
- determining a positioning error of the CNC machine based on the movement of the at least one sensor;
- and
- compensating the positioning error of a tool head.
A system for determining a positioning error of a computerized numerical control (CNC) machine, wherein the CNC machine is equipped with a calibration element, the system comprising:
- at least one sensor configured to output sensor data, the sensor data corresponding to a distance associated with the calibration element;
- a movement element configured to move the at least one sensor;
- and
- a control unit configured to processing the sensor data received from the at least one sensor, and for controlling the movement element,
- wherein the control unit is configured to:
- receive first and second sensor data;
- output movement data to the movement element causing the movement element to move the at least one sensor so that the difference between the first and second sensor data decreases until the difference becomes less than or equal than a threshold value wherein the at least one sensor comprises or is mounted to a movement element for moving the at least one sensor;
- and
- determine a positioning error of the tool head based on the movement of the at least one sensor.
A computer program product, which is stored on a non-transitory machine-readable medium containing computer instructions stored therein for causing a computer processor to perform determining a positioning error of a computerized numerical control (CNC) machine, wherein the CNC machine is equipped with a calibration element, the calibration element being in a first position, the computer program product comprising:
- computer code to read first sensor data from at least one sensor while the calibration element is at the first position, the sensor data corresponding to a distance associated with the calibration element;
- computer code to operate the CNC machine to perform a calibration movement while the calibration element remains generally at the first position;
- computer code to read second sensor data from the at least one sensor while the calibration element is at a second position, the second position denoting the actual position of the calibration element after the calibration movement has been performed;
- computer code to cause the at least one sensor to move so that the difference between the first and second sensor data decreases until the difference becomes less than or equal to a pre-determined threshold value, wherein the at least one sensor comprises or is mounted to a movement element for moving the at least one sensor;
- and
- computer code to determine a positioning error of the CNC machine based on the movement of the at least one sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.