A direct pose feedback (DPF) control method applied to a DPF controlled machine is provided. The DPF control method includes a pose compensation control in addition to the position feedback control. The pose compensation control includes an initiation step, a reference system step, an actual pose calculation step and a position compensation step. The sum of the primary driving value and the compensation driving value is output to the driver of each of the motors. The advantage of the DPF control method is that the existing real-time position control loop in the controller can remain unchanged, while the pose compensation control is added to eliminate tool pose error resulted from geometric errors in the machine. The DPF controlled machine uses a pose measuring mechanism to measure the actual pose of the tool and to compensate the tool pose error. Hence, the DPF controlled machine is free of geometric errors.

Applied within an automated robotic manufacturing system that includes additive manufacturing capabilities, methods and enabling devices are disclosed for achieving precise multi-dimension positional alignment among a plurality of diverse took that are involved in collaboratively constructing a solid object. The enabling devices according to various embodiments include an automatically deployed contact sensing probe and a tool center point sensor that detects contact with tools in multiple axes. At least one disclosed method advantageously utilizes both sensing devices in complement.

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 apparatus to assist a machinist in the setup of a remote computer controlled machine tool table has an X-axis electronic gauge block assembly, a Y-axis electronic gauge block assembly, and a Z-axis electronic gauge block assembly each positioned on the machine tool table, to respectively collect X-axis probe position values, Y-axis probe position values, and Z-axis probe position values. Environmental sensors collect environmental values. An electronics processing system establishes a raw X-axis probe position, a raw Y-axis probe position, and a raw Z-axis probe position. A wireless interface transmits the environmental values, the raw X-axis probe position value, the raw Y-axis probe position value, and the raw Z-axis probe position value to the remote computer and receives from the remote computer refined probe position values to assist the machinist in the setup of the machine tool table.

There is described a system for manufacturing a part. The system generally has a receiving area receiving said part, a first reference gauge and a second reference gauge which are subjected to common environmental conditions, said first reference gauge having a first nominal dimension and said second reference gauge having a second nominal dimension different from said first nominal dimension; a measurement device measuring dimensions of said first and second reference gauges, and measuring dimensions of said part; and a controller communicatively coupled to said measurement device, said controller determining a calibration curve by performing a mathematical fit based on said first and second nominal dimensions and said measured dimensions of said first and second reference gauges; and constructing a machine-readable dataset representative of said part, including modifying said measured dimensions of said part based on said calibration curve.

Applied within an automated robotic manufacturing system that includes additive manufacturing capabilities, methods and enabling devices are disclosed for achieving precise multi-dimension positional alignment among a plurality of diverse tools that are involved in collaboratively constructing a solid object. The enabling devices according to various embodiments include an automatically deployed contact sensing probe and a tool center point sensor that detects contact with tools in multiple axes. At least one disclosed method advantageously utilizes both sensing devices in complement.

There is described a system for manufacturing a part. The system generally has a receiving area receiving said part, a first reference gauge and a second reference gauge which are subjected to common environmental conditions, said first reference gauge having a first nominal dimension and said second reference gauge having a second nominal dimension different from said first nominal dimension; a measurement device measuring dimensions of said first and second reference gauges, and measuring dimensions of said part; and a controller communicatively coupled to said measurement device, said controller determining a calibration curve by performing a mathematical fit based on said first and second nominal dimensions and said measured dimensions of said first and second reference gauges; and constructing a machine-readable dataset representative of said part, including modifying said measured dimensions of said part based on said calibration curve.

A direct pose feedback (DPF) control method applied to a DPF controlled machine is provided. The DPF control method includes a pose compensation control in addition to the position feedback control. The pose compensation control includes an initiation step, a reference system step, an actual pose calculation step and a position compensation step. The sum of the primary driving value and the compensation driving value is output to the driver of each of the motors. The advantage of the DPF control method is that the existing real-time position control loop in the controller can remain unchanged, while the pose compensation control is added to eliminate tool pose error resulted from geometric errors in the machine. The DPF controlled machine uses a pose measuring mechanism to measure the actual pose of the tool and to compensate the tool pose error. Hence, the DPF controlled machine is free of geometric errors.

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.

Apparatus for the homing and subsequent positioning of the axes of a numerical control machine. The apparatus includes motion actuators operatively connected to a motor for moving a machine worktable of the apparatus, a control unit, an input/output unit operatively connected to the control unit for the definition of at least one working axis, at least one switching sensor, either of inductive or capacitive type, and at least one switching bar for the definition of at least one switching point identified on the at least one worktable using the at least one switching sensor. The switching sensors and switching points are fixed or mobile, and the at least one switching bar includes a detection area for the at least one switching sensor, the area being shared into a first detection section, a second detection section, and a plurality of protection and fastening areas. The apparatus also includes a sensor housing for the insertion, protection and sliding of one or more switching sensors.