Disclosed is a position controller for a tilting head in a machining center. The position controller includes an offset attachment having a body combined to the tilting head and a spherical contact secured to the body, an offset detector built in the machining center such that the offset detector move out into a process area of the machining center and automatically detects a tool offset from a contact point with the spherical contact, a storing unit individually storing first and second tool offsets by respective rotation positions of the tilting head, and an operator generating a transform offset of the first tool offset by a rotational transform and a center error vector from the transform offset and the second tool offset. Accordingly, the center error of the tilting head is automatically detected and corrected in the machining center.

An orbiting camera mount including an anti-rotation arm for connection to a spindle nose of a machine tool. A stationary pulley, having a pulley bore, is fixed to an end portion of the anti-rotation arm. The mount also includes a mounting post for connection to a spindle of the machine tool. The mounting post includes a drive shaft portion extending through the pulley bore. A drive housing is fixed to the drive shaft portion for rotation therewith and an output shaft is supported in the drive housing. A driven pulley is fixed to the output shaft and a drive belt extends between the stationary and driven pulleys, whereby rotation of the mounting post causes the output shaft to orbit around the drive shaft portion. A camera mounting stem is coupled to the output shaft and is oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to the drive shaft portion.

A spindle phase indexing device for a machine tool is equipped with a guide rail detachably or fixedly attached to a table, a phase indexing jig configured to travel on the guide rail and which includes a first fitting part, a cutting tool including a second fitting part configured to be fitted with the first fitting part, and a controller configured to store therein a phase of a spindle at a point in time when the first fitting part and the second fitting part are fitted together. The first fitting part and the second fitting part are formed such that rotation of the cutting tool is constrained when the first fitting part and the second fitting part are fitted together.

The disclosure provides methods for calibrating processing machines for the production of 3D components by irradiation of powder layers, wherein the processing machine includes a scanner device for positioning a laser beam in a processing field in which a height-adjustable construction platform for the application of the powder layers by sweeping at least two, e.g., three markings, e.g., in the form of spherical retroreflectors, which are applied on the construction platform and/or on a preform , by the laser beam, detecting laser radiation reflected back from the markings into the scanner device , determining actual positions of the markings , determining deviations of the actual positions of the markings from setpoint positions of the markings, and calibrating the processing machine by correcting the positioning of the laser beam and/or the position of the construction platform using the determined deviations. The disclosure also relates to associated processing machines.

Disclosed is a position controller for a tilting head in a machining center. The position controller includes an offset attachment having a body combined to the tilting head and a spherical contact secured to the body, an offset detector built in the machining center such that the offset detector move out into a process area of the machining center and automatically detects a tool offset from a contact point with the spherical contact, a storing unit individually storing first and second tool offsets by respective rotation positions of the tilting head, and an operator generating a transform offset of the first tool offset by a rotational transform and a center error vector from the transform offset and the second tool offset. Accordingly, the center error of the tilting head is automatically detected and corrected in the machining center.

A spindle phase indexing device for a machine tool is equipped with a guide rail detachably or fixedly attached to a table, a phase indexing jig configured to travel on the guide rail and which includes a first fitting part, a cutting tool including a second fitting part configured to be fitted with the first fitting part, and a controller configured to store therein a phase of a spindle at a point in time when the first fitting part and the second fitting part are fitted together. The first fitting part and the second fitting part are formed such that rotation of the cutting tool is constrained when the first fitting part and the second fitting part are fitted together.

A method of determining a positioning error of a CNC machine is provided and an system thereof. A calibration element is placed within the CNC machine. A first sensor reading is taken of the calibration element. A second sensor reading is taken and the sensor is moved in a manner that the difference between the first and second sensor data decreases until the difference becomes less or equal to a pre-determined threshold value. A positioning error of the tool head is determined based on the movement of the sensor.