Faster and More Efficient CMM Calibration Solution

June 16, 2021

Keeping your CMM machine calibrated regularly will ensure that the measurement data that you create is accurate. The definitive procedure for calibration of CMMs which is used by all CMM manufacturers is the ISO 10360 series. Most CMM machine calibration will be accomplished with the use of an artifact, but for more demanding calibration, a laser interferometer can be employed. Ultimately CMM machine calibration comes down to one thing: precision.

A CMM measuring machine can have errors along 21 different measurement axes. This means that your company needs to use accurate calibration data to make sure that any misalignment is found so that it can be either fixed or integrated into the data. There are different levels of CMM machine calibration ranging from a weekly check to precise calibration that is performed once or twice a year. Many modern CMM machines use advanced software to account for small misalignments, though the risk is that an error will not stay constant.

Companies need advanced measurement solutions that enable them to guarantee the reliability of key processes such as validating the quality of manufactured parts and obtaining data for analysis and critical decision making. Thus, manufacturers usually employ quality control equipment such as a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) which is high technological value equipment designed to calculate the geometric characteristics of an object. Despite their precision, these machines require exhaustive and costly periodic calibration to work correctly.

In this scenario, General Tech Services LLC has the facilities for calibrating medium and large by using a laser interferometer as a measurement standard. The General Tech Services is therefore the only entity in UAE to offer a calibration service using this laser tracker technology, which replaces traditional physical calibration standards and significantly improves the calibration time required compared to the use of physical standards. Our skilled, detailed-oriented CMM Service Engineers apply those approved methods and processes to guarantee that your CMM is calibrated to ISO 10360 standards. During the process, we utilize an extremely precise step gauge artifact with NIST traceability, ensuring that your CMM is performing optimally and providing accurate and repeatable measurements. Compensation files can be accessed and adjusted just as the OEM would at a reduced cost to complete the CMM Calibration and certification error compensation map files in the PC or Controller.

The use of this technology offers a more efficient calibration solution for a large number of CMMs, which are being currently calibrated using manual methods. The main problem of traditional calibration systems lies in the complexity of quickly and reliably using very long physical patterns. These lengthy processes can in turn result in more wastage of time and efficiency. Compared to manual methods, this system offers an automated solution that combines the most advanced laser interferometry technology, reducing human interference and hence the possibility of errors as well. This solution consists of following a reflector located near the machine probe and measuring linear displacements. On the one hand, interferometric accuracy is maintained throughout the calibration process and, on the other, machine downtime (typically up to 6-8 hours) is considerably reduced. The software is connected via a computer to the CMM and the laser tracer AG measurement system and records the data obtained during calibration. Once all the checks have been carried out, the application generates reports that are compared with the performance data of the machine to detect possible mismatches.

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