CNC perfromance – ballbar analysis
Ballbar analysis measures contouring errors in machining centers that are only apparent when the machine is in motion.  By converting data into a plot, the true movement of the machine is revealed.  From this recorded movement, the actual tolerance of the machine can be calculated and compared to the acceptable part tolerance.  This value will drive appropriate corrective action plans.

Ballbar data will quantify faults in the machine center such as servo mismatch, stick-slip error, straightness of the axes, lateral play, backlash, reversal spikes, circularity error, scale, and machine geometry.  Each of these conditions can be trended over time.

The ATS report will include a plot of the machine’s true movement, table listing of quantifiable errors, and recommendations for how to improve performance.  Severity assignments are based on the difference between the actual machine performance and the required part tolerance.
Related Articles
Online Condition Monitoring

Online Condition Monitoring

How many times has your company had a great idea for making a big and exciting change—and then had to abandon the idea because you just can’t spare the time from your day-to-day operations to make a substantial adjustment to your work? You might even be confident that...

Weathering the Storm

Weathering the Storm

We did not know what was coming to our community on August 10, 2020. The day started out as normal and the forecast was not unusual in any particular way.  Then, around 12:30 pm the sky got dark, it started to rain heavily, and the wind started to blow. We are not...

Resolve to Reduce Downtown

Resolve to Reduce Downtown

Happy New Year! It’s the time of year during which we all promise to do better and to be better. On the whole, however, we’re not very good at keeping our resolutions.  That’s why so many of us make the same promises to ourselves year in and year out. But when it...

PdM for the Red Nose?

PdM for the Red Nose?

Think about a foggy Christmas Eve. Consider Rudolph’s shiny nose. Perfect match, right? Rudolph leads the team of reindeer through the fog, his nose providing a beacon in the darkness. Christmas is saved! Unless… What if Rudolph’s nose is on the blink? Won’t light up?...

It’s Time to Talk Turkey

It’s Time to Talk Turkey

It’s time to talk turkey. Sure, that’s a Thanksgiving reference.  But it’s also a reminder that it’s always the right time for real talk. As the holiday season gears up, it can sometimes feel like November and December are lost months on the business side of things....

ask us about a customized program for your facility

Our programs, built on trust and respect, are customized for each facility. Our proprietary online reporting system puts you in complete control.