Precision of machine tools

汽车、航空航天、植入物和假体等众多行业都需要制造复杂而精密的零件。 其中一些零件是直接机加工的，而另一些零件则是用机加工的精密模具铸造、锻造或冲压的。 机械加工是一种需要刀具在工件上运动的过程。 结果的尺寸和几何质量在很大程度上取决于机床精确移动刀具的能力。 机器的构造和装配及其使用过程中不可避免的错误会影响机器的精度，因此有必要定期验证机器状态并采取纠正措施以确保产品质量。 到目前为止，与轴之间的不对准相关的误差已经受到了很大的关注，并且许多仪器和方法现在正在工业中实施。 然而，有几个问题仍未解决。 一个问题是各个轴的不正确运动造成的误差。 用于测量这种误差的仪器在工业中不使用，因为它们需要太长的时间来设置。 另一个问题是在工业环境中获得的值的不确定性。 这一点很重要，尤其是当这些值用于校正机床以获得更好的加工零件质量时。 我们的愿景是实现自动化流程，使机器能够自我检查和自我校准，以确保在其整个使用寿命期间实现最佳精度。 研究计划考虑了这两个问题，因为它们是相互关联的。 申请人建立在他以前在这一领域的成就，并有机会获得世界一流的实验室设施进行拟议的研究。

Numerous industries such as automotive, aerospace and implants and prosthesis require the manufacture of complex and precise parts. Some of those parts are machined directly while others are cast, forged or stamped with precise dies and molds that have been machined. Machining is a process requiring the motion of a cutting tool through a workpiece. The dimensional and geometric quality of the result depends largely on the ability of the machine to move its tool accurately. The inevitable errors in the construction and assembly of the machine and its usage will affect the machine accuracy so that it is necessary to periodically verify the machine status and take corrective actions to ensure product quality. So far the errors associated with the misalignments between axes have received much attention and a number of instruments and methodologies are now being implemented in industry. However, several issues remain unsolved. One issue is the error contributed by the incorrect motion of the individual axes. The instruments used to measure such errors are not used in industry because they take too long to setup. Another issue is the uncertainty in the values obtained in an industrial environment. This is important especially if such values are to be used to correct the machine in order to achieve better machined part quality. The vision is for automated processes whereby the machine can self-check and self-calibrate to ensure optimal precision throughout its lifetime. The research program considers both issues since they are interrelated. The applicant builds on his previous achievements in this field and has access to world class laboratory facilities to conduct the proposed research.