2017cnc10-11

CNC WEST October/November 2017 www.CNC-West.com 49 automatically via tool form errors, and thus fulfills an important factor for reliable ma- chining processes. However, shape deviations of the tool used can also be manually entered into the compensation value table from a measurement log made available by the tool manufacturer. COMPENSATING SWITCHING-CHAR- ACTERISTIC DEVIATIONS OF WORK- PIECE TOUCH PROBES If free-form surfaces have to be measured with high accuracy after processing, then the workpiece touch probe used should be calibrated three-dimensionally. In this way, deviations of the switching behavior in any direction can be compensated. To begin, 3D- ToolComp uses a calibration ball to perform a 3-D calibration of the workpiece touch probe. Here 3D-ToolComp automatically generates a compensation value table in which the de- viations of the switching characteristics are recorded. If the 3-D calibrated workpiece touch probe is then used together with the prob- ing cycle 444 for measuring a machined free- form surface, the control takes account of the compensation values that are stored. The surface is measured with high accuracy. The user can also define the tolerance values him- self, which the probe cycle 444 uses directly to analyze the finished quality. In addition, the measured results, for example for an indi- vidual automation process, can be evaluated in the NC program. This is useful, for exam- ple, for recognizing surface quality deviations that occur during machining through tool wear, programming errors or deflection. Precondition for high-accuracy measurement of free-form surfaces: the calibration of a workpiece touch probe with 3D-ToolComp and Cycle 444. High-precision machining with radius and toroidal milling tools: 3D-ToolComp compensates radius deviations from the ideal circular shape.