The development of a six-component force/moment sensor testing machine and evaluation of its uncertainty

This paper describes the design and fabrication of a six-component force/moment sensor testing machine and the evaluation of its uncertainty. This testing machine, which generates forces Fx (x-direction force), Fy and Fz from 50 to 500 N each and moments Mx (x-direction moment), My and Mz from 5 to 50 N m each, simultaneously or separately, consists of a body, a fixture, a force generating system, a moment generating system, weights and a control system. Forces and moments are automatically generated by the control system composed of a computer, three step motors and so on. Also, the relative expanded uncertainty of the testing machine is evaluated. The results show that the relative uncertainties for force components ±Fx and ±Fy and moment components ±Mx and ±My are less than 8.6×10-4 and those for force components + Fz and -Fz and moment components ±Mz are less than 1.7×10-3, 1.2×10-5 and 1.7×10-3 respectively.