S-1387 Machine Tool Geometry Software

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The Machine Tool Geometry Software is a Windows-based program for machining center alignment. It is used with our continuously rotating laser systems (L-743, L-742, L-741, L-733, L-732, L-731, L-723, L-722, L-720 and L-720M) to measure and analyze the lines of motion of the machine's main axes. Geometric errors, such as flatness, squareness, straightness and parallelism, are automatically downloaded using the our wireless IR receiver (A-908) or our computer interface (R-355).

The MACHINE CATALOG page shows front, side and top views of the machine tool, and displays all the lines of motion for each view. The label of the machine's main axes can be customized to the individual machine type (i.e., X axis, Y axis and Z axis). It also allows the user to choose a machine configuration from 5 different types of machine tools and automatically updates the computer graphics to display the chosen machine type. It even lets those with AutoCAD skills to design their own machine graphics. Straightness tolerances for each line of motion and squareness and parallelism between them are chosen on the MACHINE CATALOG page, as well.

The SETUP page is where the user chooses the length, number of points and distance between the points for each line of motion. The type of target, target orientation, direction of measurements, alignment tolerances and interface to be used in the measurement are also chosen here.

The DATA TAKING page displays the measurement in a readout box and updates the graph of data as it is recorded. After each point is recorded, the cursor automatically moves to the next point and the least-squares, best-fit line is calculated. Multiple measurement "runs" and bi-directional data can also be recorded for each line of motion.

The VIEW PLOT screen shows a graph of each line of motion for a given view (such as top view). Many viewing choices are available, such as: tolerance bands, TIR with high and low points, and squareness and parallelism angles (slope of best-fit line) between axes. Any line of motion can also be chosen as the datum and the other axes are re-plotted to reflect the new reference. The angles and graphs can be zoomed in or out, and a forward-run average, backward-run average or an overall average can also be graphed.

The VIEW PLOT screen can also compare a previous set of data to the newly recorded set. Click a button on the bottom of the page and the data behind the graphs are displayed along with their compliance to user-defined tolerances.