Identification of alignment errors in five-axis machining centers using telescoping ball bar

This paper deals with the identification of alignment errors in five-axis machining centers. There are thirteen alignment errors in each five-axis machining center. Three alignment errors in the three translational slideways are identified by circular tests using a Telescoping Ball Bar. In this paper, assuming the use of a Telescoping Ball Bar, identification methods for the other ten alignment errors in five-axis machining centers are proposed. The theoretical background for identification is given by a form-shaping theory. The validity of the proposed identification method of alignment errors is confirmed by experiment.