Self-aware and self-correcting machine tools for robust accuracy

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Much wealth is created by machining complex parts for the aerospace, automotive, oil and medical industry to name a few. The ability to make ever more complex parts, with tighter tolerances, enables original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to design products that stay ahead of international competitors in terms of performance and cost. It also enables part manufacturers to competitively supply Canadian and international OEMs. In both cases, such industries are users of machine tools often widely available. What differentiates users is their capacity to select and then get the most out of their installed manufacturing base. In recent years, a growing trend has been towards machines which combine processes such as turning and milling to produce complex parts in a single setup thus potentially increasing productivity and quality. But their high capital cost means that uptime is crucial and making an out-of-tolerance part is unacceptable even for the first part made.