Measuring with an inclined touch probe head in the starting position

This example describes the measurement of the C axis of a 5-axis machine with inclined tough probe head.,

If the touch probe head were vertical at the start (axis A = 0), the touch probe head would not change its position in the current coordinate system when the C axis rotates. The X, Y and Z coordinates of the measured centre points of the calibration sphere would then lie above each other, and this would made the calculation impossible.

To permit a successful execution of the cycle, the A axis can be swivelled in, in this example by 50°. However, this results in the situation that the touch probe head is already inclined at cycle start. In order to adapt the measurement movements, the corresponding parameters must be made in the parameters P94 to P96. The important thing is that the touch probe head points to the centre point of the calibration sphere at cycle start.

The following parameter settings are conceivable for the successful execution of the cycle.

• The touch probe head is inclined since in this example it was swivelled through 50° about the A axis, which rotates about the X axis. Rotation about the X axis results in the following parameter settings: @P94 = 1, @P95 = 0, @P96 = 0
• The inclination was cause by an angle of 50°. @P97 = 50
• It is expected that the measured axis rotates about the Z axis: @P91 = 0, @P92 = 0, @P93 = 1
• Pre-positioning is to take place in manual mode: @P90 = 1
• The index of the measured rotary axis has the value 3: @P89 = 3
• The diameter of the calibration sphere is 50mm: @P87 = 50
• The sphere is to be measured with a security distance of 50mm: @P13 = 50
• Measurement movements in Z direction should have a length of 30mm. @P6 = 30
• To ensure the calibration sphere is touched in horizontal measurement movements, the crossover range is set to 10mm. @P33 = 10

This results in the following cycle call: