Conical path generation technique for ball bar measurement using simultaneous 5-axis motion control

This study proposes a path generation technique for simultaneous five-axis driving for ball bar measurement, which is equivalent to cone frustum machining as mentioned in the NAS979 standard. The technique is generalized for a 3D circular path, and it is applicable to all machine tools regardless of their structural configurations. A mathematical machine input model that consists of a five-axis machine tool, ball-bar measurement and conical path information as inputs is presented for easy NC code generation, simulation for various test conditions, and a measurement test. The movement range of rotary axes, which depends on various conditions, is mathematically analyzed based on the proposed conical path model. Moreover, the effect of the movement range on various conditions (apex angle and inclination angle, ball bar tilting acceptance angle, offset position of workpiece ball, etc.) is analyzed.