Metrological characterisation of tool pre-setting optical systems based on 2D imaging

Accurate tool geometry is vital in modern computer numerical control machine tools for ensuring the accuracy of the manufactured parts in machining processes. The tool pre-setting optical systems play an important role by establishing accurate, efficient, and repeatable tool data for cutting tools varying from macro to micro size tools. The tool data is later utilised by the numerical control programs to accomplish precision machining operations with the required accuracy. However, the traceability of tool pre-setting optical systems is not guaranteed due to the lack of specific international standards, and there is a strong need of establishing a traceable measurement process which requires calibrated reference artefacts. In this work, we have established the metrological characteristics of an image-based tool pre-setting optical system based on ISO 15530 part 3. For this purpose, an artefact with sharp cutting edges was manufactured from a calibrated cylindrical gauge pin, measured on a coordinate measuring machine by two different approaches, and the impact of the edge radius is incorporated in the measurement process. The artefact was later employed in the performance verification of the optical system for on-machine tool characterization analogous to the production workshop environment, and the measured outcome of the optical sensor was evaluated with the developed metrological approaches. Experiments have shown the applicability of the measurement procedures and the relevance of the proposed reference artefact for the characterisation of image-based tool pre-setting optical systems.