Automatic calibration and compensation for a CNC machine table and an associated probe

1. A method for calibrating a CNC machine comprising:

mounting a spherical gauge to a table of the CNC machine;

measuring a first plurality of points about a circumference of the spherical gauge with a probe;

calculating a first center point of the spherical gauge utilizing the first plurality of points measured by the probe;

rotating the table;

measuring a second plurality of points about the circumference of the spherical gauge with the probe;

calculating a second center point of the spherical gauge utilizing the second plurality of points measured by the probe, the second center point being rotated about an actual table center from the first center point;

determining the coordinates of the actual table center from the first center point and the second center point;

determining a total deviation of the probe and the actual table center from a nominal table center position within a coordinate system associated with the CNC machine; and

programming a controller operatively connected to the CNC machine and the probe to compensate for the total deviation.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

measuring two opposing points on the circumference of the gauge with the probe, wherein each of the opposing points is measured with a respective opposing side of the probe; and

calculating a first flexing deviation of the probe based upon the two opposing points measured to calibrate the probe with the gauge.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein calibrating the probe further comprises:

measuring a y-location of a feature with a straight stylus of the probe when a lateral stylus of the probe is positioned at a first orientation about a spindle axis;

measuring the y-location of the feature with the straight stylus of the probe when the lateral stylus of the probe is positioned at a second orientation about a spindle axis that is 180 degrees from the first orientation; and

calculating an actual y-location of the feature by averaging the first and second measurements.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the total deviation of the probe and the actual table center further comprises:

calculating the offset in the total deviation of the probe and the actual machine table center using the first actual gauge position and the second actual gauge position; and

programming the controller for the CNC machine with the calculated total deviation to calibrate the probe and machine table center for future calculations.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein calibrating a probe to the gauge mounted on the table includes taking measurements of the gauge with a lateral stylus of the probe.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spherical gauge is a single spherical gauge.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the table is approximately 90 degrees about the actual table center.

8. A method of calibrating a probe and CNC machine table center to a coordinate system for a CNC machine comprising:

measuring a first actual gauge position of a gauge disposed on the machine table on the coordinate system for the CNC machine with the probe;

rotating the machine table for the CNC machine and measuring a second actual gauge position of the gauge disposed on the machine table;

calculating the offset in the total deviation of the probe and the actual machine table center to a nominal machine table center using the first and the second actual gauge positions; and

programming a controller for the CNC machine with the calculated total deviation to calibrate the probe and machine table center to the coordinate system for the CNC machine.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein programming the controller further comprises re-centering the coordinate system with the table based upon the total deviation calculated.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the probe is calibrated to the gauge mounted on the CNC machine prior to calibrating the probe to the CNC machine, and where calibrating the probe to the gauge comprises:

measuring a plurality of points about a circumference of the gauge with the probe; and

calculating a center point of the gauge utilizing the plurality of points measured by the probe.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

measuring two opposing points on the circumference of the gauge with the probe, wherein each of the opposing points is measured with a respective opposing side of the probe; and

calculating a first flexing deviation of the probe based upon the two opposing points measured to calibrate the probe with the gauge mounted to the CNC machine.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

measuring a y-location of a feature with a straight stylus of the probe when a lateral stylus of the probe is positioned at a first orientation about a spindle axis;

measuring the y-location of the feature with the straight stylus of the probe when the lateral stylus of the probe is positioned at a second orientation about a spindle axis that is 180 degrees from the first orientation; and

calculating an actual y-location of the feature by averaging the first and second measurements.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein calculating the center point of the gauge comprises using a least square fit calculation.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the gauge is a sphere gauge.