THERMAL EFFECTS ON THE ACCURACY OF NUMERICALLY CONTROLLED MACHINE TOOLS (NUMERICAL METHODS, EXPERIMENTAL)

Summary A significant event in the last decade is the merging of electronic information sciences and production control techniques with metrology and manufacturing process into a single integrated system [1]. The advent of computers and sensors has in a sense allowed for the possibility of unmanned manufacturing. While such a goal is desirable, stringent accuracy requirements pose problems. This paper in essence is an overview of some of the work done at Purdue University, W. Lafayette, Indiana [2]. The research attempts to fill a gap between ultra precision engineering which is mastered for example at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and conventional economic production technology practiced in the US industry [3].