A parallel error separation method for the on-line measurement and reconstruction of cylindrical profiles

An innovative parallel error separation technique for on-line measurement and reconstruction of cylindrical profile is presented. A five-probe system configured to target three adjacent cross-sections of the cylinder is proposed to simultaneously execute the three-probe roundness error separation and three probe straightness error separation. The curved median line is determined by fitting through the least squares centers of circular cross-sectional profiles. The cylindrical profile conforming to the mathematical definition can then be reconstructed for the cylindricity error evaluation. Theoretical analysis and numerical validation have been performed. The results verify that the spindle's radial and tilt error motions as well as the probe carriage's straightness deviations are removed, and the least squares center of each cross-sectional profile of the cylinder is accurately extracted even if the spindle's error motions are not repeatable in each rotation. This method has thoroughly solved the inherent problem in conventional multi-probe error separation techniques: the suppression of the first-order harmonic in separating the cross-sectional profile of the cylinder and the error motions of the spindle. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.