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A rotary axis can be calibrated in five easy steps:1 Attach a standard angular retro-reflector to the RX10 rotary indexer.2 Attach the RX10 rotary indexer to the axis under test by clamping the mounting plate to the table.3 Attach the angular beam-splitter optic to a stable independent mounting.4 The rotary axis is calibrated by rotating it sequentially through a number of angular targets as pre-selected in Renishaw’s calibration software. Laser readings are taken at each position.5 As the axis rotates, the RX10 rotary indexer is counter-rotated automatically to ensure that the laser beam is returned back to the laser.

Performance measurement and calibration - 5200 System advantages

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Easier set-up – the indexer performs an automated calibration routine to eliminate set-up errors, therefore there is no need to accurately centre the system.

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Quick, automated calibration – the indexer is motorised for lock, unlock and rotate movements to enable automatic alignment and tracking without any operator or machine intervention (ideal for CMMs). Before After Recent international standards state that a rotary axis should be calibrated in a number of ways, which include:

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Flexibility – can calibrate any angle with accuracy, even multiple revolutions.

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0.1
o increments through 5
o .
o o The two graphs show errors in a rotary axis both before calibration and after repair work has been carried out.

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3 intervals through 360 .

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At 0
o , 90
o , 180
o and 270
o positions and nine further random angular positions through 360
o . It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to complete these measurements using auto collimators and optical polygons.

Specification

MetricImperial Angular range unlimited Indexing accuracy (Standard) ± 5 µm/m ± 1 arc sec Repeatability 1 µm/m 0.2 arc sec Mounting Top or bottom faces for spindle or table location Operation Vertical or horizontal Control Automatic via RS232 to PC Operating temperature 0 – 40
o C 32 – 104
o F30 rpm when the measurement step size <10 degrees2 rpm when measurement step size > Max velocity of indexer table 10 degrees

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