IN YOUR SHOP, ON YOUR MACHINE
LASER ALIGNMENT & LASER CALIBRATION
OVER 15 YEARS OF QUALITY SERVICE,
QUICK RESPONSE,
NATIONWIDE

Your machines made good parts for years
and they can make good parts again!

If you want to see a reaction
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Machine Tool Calibration:

Some questions to ask. (Before you spend your money to have a machine laser calibrated.)
Is the finish as expected?
Are the holes on location?
To machine good parts, are you constantly editing your part programs?
Do you bore holes instead of circular interpolate them?
Do you shim under your parts to make them square?
Is there only one operator that can make good parts on a particular machine?

Some easy self checks can provide you a world of information.
You have all the tools; a machine, and a machinist, a piece of steel, the tooling, and the inspection department.
Therefore there is no immediate reason to purchase any new machine tool inspection devices.
(Laser calibrator, ball bar or even a precision level)

OUR SELF TEST

• Enter the part program. DO NOT EDIT IT.
• Circular interpolate a pocket or thru hole, remove it from the machine and inspect it.
• Relocate the part in a different location and do it again with no material removal. (just blue it up)
  Does it come out the same?
• Cut a rectangular pocket, remove it from the machine and inspect it.
  Is it square?
  Is it the right size?
• Relocate the part in a different location and do it again with no material removal. (just blue it up)
  Does it come out the same?
• Circular interpolate two holes, on the same piece in different locations, remove it from the machine and inspect it.
  Are they the same?
  Are they where they were put? (Location)
• Relocate the part in a different location and do it again with no material removal. (just blue it up)
  Does it come out the same?
• Put some pin holes on location, remove it from the machine and inspect it.
  Are they on location?
• Relocate the part and try it again with no material removal, (just blue it up)
  Are they the same?
• Face mill the top, fly cut it.
  Is the blend the same?
  Is the finish as expected?
• Relocate the part in a different location and do it again with no material removal. (just blue it up)
  Does it come out the same?
  You should see a nice even pattern with both tools.
  (Face mill to fly cutter tool differences may account for some of the differences but you should be able to make sense of them.)
  If any of the above tests do not come out as expected your machine may need some help.
   

Some of the results indicate.
1. Basic level condition of the machine. (Is it twisted?)
2. Straightness of the machine.
3. Initial squareness of the machine.
4. Tight or loose guide ways. (gibs)
5. Backlash in the drive system. (ball screw end play, and backlash)
6. Positioning accuracy.
Supplying this information will give any technician a head start and save you in the long run.



Now you have some basic trouble shooting information needed to take the next step.
1. Can we do it in house?
2. Do we have the tools?
3. Do we want to buy the tools?
4. Do we know a good mechanic?
5. Does he have all the tools?
6. Does he want to buy the tools?
(Can he laser calibrate the machine and certify his final adjustments?)
You already know the answer or you would not be here!



Now that you have made your decision here are some of my general rules for any good machine tool alignment and calibration.
The first step is to precision level the machine base. (At the rails not the table top)
With this completed you must check and adjust the gibs, now comes the time to check and adjust squareness between the axes (x to y, x to z, and y to z) and parallelism (spindle tram). These adjustments sound simple and they are for the experienced machine tool service technician. Now bring out your laser, verify and fine tune all the necessary adjustments and calibrate the pitch error compensation to bring the machine to optimum running condition!

Now, repeat your tests to verify all the work.


A good final part is the best confirmation that you have your machine is back in optimum condition!