Machine tool and motion error standardized definitions for simplified error modeling

Error models for the purposes of understanding and correcting machine motion errors have been used for many years. Most of these models have been developed to define and improve the behavior of specific laboratory devices or commercial products. The adaptation of Error Modeling for general use in factory applications requires the incorporation of a wide variety of machine configurations. Some of these machines and their errors are described in ISO and ANSI Standards. Limitations of the current number of machine configurations defined in these Standards reduce the effective application of standardization when new configurations are developed. Also, the measurement of a machine is often limited to a few errors by the instrumentation available. This paper proposes more generalized methods for naming machines and their errors, as well as error sign conventions, to permit a wider application of models. These generalized methods also facilitate communication of the wide variety of error measurements necessary for comprehensive diagnostics and corrections. The research funding to create these conventions has been provided to Independent Quality Labs, Inc. (IQL) by the US Army Research Laboratories in Aberdeen, MD.