Ballbar testing in tandem with circle, diamond, square machining tests

This white paper describes how Renishaw ballbar tests can be used in tandem (or in some cases in lieu of) a ‘Circle diamond square’ cutting test to evaluate machine tool performance. First, it gives an overview of the circle diamond square contouring test and the measurements used to assess machine performance. It then describes the Renishaw ballbar system and the results provided by the automatic plot diagnosis software. This is followed by detailed information about how the ballbar diagnosis results can be used in advance of cutting tests to provide a valuable insight into machine performance before any metal is cut, thereby saving both time and cost.