Method for using a geometrical probe with a spindle of a machine tool, and machine tool configured to carry out such a method

1. A method for using a geometrical probe with a spindle of a machine tool, comprising wherein

in a probe fetch waiting state of the machine tool, at least one temperature parameter related to a temperature of the spindle of the machine tool is determined by measuring at least one temperature value for the spindle, and

a time for fetching the geometrical probe is determined depending on the at least one temperature parameter.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one temperature parameter is chosen from a group including the at least one temperature value, and a time derivative of a measured spindle temperature.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein from the at least temperature value a start temperature value for the spindle is measured, and a waiting time interval (Δt w ) for the machine tool to wait prior to fetching the geometrical probe is determined depending on the start temperature value.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a temporal sequence of temperature values (T) of the spindle is measured, and a signal to fetch the geometrical probe is produced when at least one of the following occurs

a) when the temperature values (T) remain constant within a predetermined relative temperature range for a predetermined time interval,

b) when the temperature values (T) reach or fall below a predetermined probe fetch temperature limit (T 1 ),

c) when a time derivative (DT) of the temporal sequence of temperature values (T) reaches or rises above a predetermined probe fetch derivative limit (DT 1 ), and

d) if none of the conditions a) through c) applies, after a predetermined maximum waiting time.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, if the signal to fetch the geometrical probe is produced after a predetermined maximum waiting time has elapsed, a warning signal is produced.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a temperature model of the spindle is used to determine at least one of a waiting time interval (Δt w ), a predetermined relative temperature range, a predetermined time interval, a predetermined probe fetch temperature limit (T 1 ), and/or a predetermined probe fetch derivative limit (DT 1 ).

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, on a pickup signal to change or pick up a tool, it is checked whether the pickup signal is a probe fetch request signal, and further, if the pickup signal is a probe fetch request signal, the machine tool is brought into the probe fetch waiting state.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a spindle temperature adjustment tool is mounted to the spindle in the probe fetch waiting state, the spindle temperature adjustment tool preferably being at least one of a passive cooling tool and an active temperature adjustment tool.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the geometrical probe is fetched on a signal to fetch the geometrical probe, and a predetermined probe waiting time is waited from the fetching of the geometrical probe to a first usage of the geometrical probe.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

a) the machine tool is a milling machine, and/or

b) the geometrical probe is a touch probe.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the time for fetching the geometrical probe is determined depending additionally on at least one preset machine user parameter.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one machine user parameter is selected from a group consisting of a preset machining accuracy, a preset machining speed, and a preset surface quality of a surface of a workpiece to be reached by machining the surface of the workpiece with the machine tool.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein at least one fetching time parameter is determined depending on the at least one machine user parameter, the at least one fetching time parameter being selected from a group consisting of a variable time and/or a variable temperature threshold, a variable delay, the waiting time interval (Δt w ), the predetermined relative temperature range, the predetermined time interval, the predetermined probe fetch temperature limit (T 1 ), the predetermined probe fetch derivative limit (DT 1 ), the predetermined maximum waiting time, and the predetermined probe waiting time.

14. A machine tool having a spindle, a geometrical probe adapted to be coupled to the spindle, at least one temperature sensor arranged and configured to measure a spindle temperature value, and a control device, the control device configured to carry out a method according to claim 1 .