New Method of Contactless Measurement and Analysis of CNC Machine Spindle Lopping

This article is focused and describes a system of a contactless measurement and analysis of a spindle lopping of CNC machines with horizontal axis orientation. The spindle lopping is caused by changes of spindle and headstock deformation during the spindle longitudinal travel and it has a considerable importance for precise CNC machine. The measurement system results from the research and development of a contactless measurement method using a laser source. The laser source is mounted in the CNC machine spindle and rotates together with the spindle. The laser beam goes to the sensor box placed at a specific distance from the spindle. Inside the sensor box, the beam is split into two paths and their traces are recorded by two cameras situated in a position that the beam path total length is different for each camera. The spindle lopping is calculated and analyzed from the camera records using appropriate software equipment. The form and application of the new measurement method is protected by patent CZ305542 (B6).