34th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING
28. - 30. September 2011, Ni, Serbia
University of Ni, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS ON STYLUS CALIBRATION OF A COORDINATE

MEASURING MACHINE (CMM)

Miodrag HADZISTEVIC, Janko HODOLIC, Igor BUDAK, Djordje VUKELIC, Branko STRBAC
Department of Production Engineering, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovia 6, Novi Sad, Serbia
miodrags@uns.ac.rs, hodolic@uns.ac.rs, budaki@uns.ac.rs, vukelic@uns.ac.rs, strbacb@uns.ac.rs

Abstract: The result of the measurement on a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) depends on many
factors. Calibration accuracy of the styli is one component of inaccuracy. The exact calibration of the
styli is the basic requirement for all measurements. Inaccuracies occurring during the calibration and
verification have an effect on all measuring results. Influential factors in the calibration process, such as
the accuracy of the calibration sphere and the environmental conditions in this study will be ignored. This
paper analyses the results of the calibration depending on the calibration sphere direction on the
machine table and the displacement of calibration contact starting point in the positive direction of the x
axis. The appropriate conclusions will be made based on the analysis of the results.

Key words: calibration styli, probe, accuracy, CMM.

1. INTRODUCTION
Coordinate measurement machines are complex machines
with a large number of error sources affecting the
accuracy of measurement results. Many factors have been
identified as the source of measurement errors on CMM
and can be summarized in five groups: measuring
machine (measuring range, reference sphere, machine
geometry, linear measuring system, etc.), environment
(room temperature, thermal radiation, humidity, floor
vibration, etc.), workpiece (soiling of the workpiece,
linear stability, roughness, elasticity, etc.), measurement
strategy (stylus selection, measuring method, number of
probing, evaluation method, etc.) and operator training
(further training, shaft probing, measuring run planning,
stylus calibration, etc.). [2] One of the errors includes the
probing system calibration (stylus calibration) and it has a
critical role in the CMM measurement, not only in terms
of its functionality, but also its contribution towards the
overall measurement error. The probing system in CMM
includes a stylus and a stylus tip which have their own
dynamic characteristics during the measuring process [4].
The stylus tip contact with the detected surface is the
source of signals that will develop the pattern on the
working objects. Hence, the performance of the CMM
overall system is very much dictated by the motion
precision of the probe tip and its actuator. Therefore, the
probe stylus tip is laterally at the centre of the CMM
operation and a key element of coordinate measurements
[5]. The exact calibration of the styli is the basic
requirement for all measurements. Any deviation caused
by an inadequate or not correctly performed calibration
process will affect every measurement to be done with the
probing system, i.e. the measurement results could have
significant errors.
This paper analyses the results of the calibration contact
starting point in the positive direction of the x axis and the
orientation reference sphere. The standard deviation is
considered as a calibration value. Influential factors in the
calibration process, such as the accuracy of the calibration
sphere and the environmental conditions will be ignored
in this study.
The experimental tests have been carried out on a CMM
Carl Zeiss CONTURA G2 RDS in the Metrology
Laboratory of the Department of Production Engineering
at the University of Novi Sad.
2. CALIBRATION STYLUS
The position of the tip ball centre point related to the
reference point of the probing system and the radius of
the tip ball must be known in order to perform correct
measurements. These parameters are dependent on the
probing force (magnitude and direction), elastic behaviour
of a probing system, styli, workpiece and other
influences. Their origin can be materials, components,
arrangement of components in the probing system,
dimensions like length, diameter of styli, material
properties, and elastic flexibility of stylus joins, including
suspension and roundness deviations of the tip ball.
Due to the necessary accuracy and the complexity of
interactions, they cannot be calculated. They can be
determined experimentally for a virtually ideal probing
system with a virtually stiff stylus with an effective tip
ball diameter using a calibrated artefact under the same
conditions as the performance of the subsequent
measurement. This procedure is called the probing system
calibration (Figure 1).[3]
Calibration is a fundamental action in the management of
sensors and of the entire measuring cycle. Calibration
consists in the identification of diameter and of the
position of the centre artefact with respect to the origins
of the CMM reference system. In essence, calibration
defines where the probe (stylus) is located in space, and
nullifies the effect of probing forces on accuracy.
It is very important that the correct reference sphere is
used and that its latest calibrated size is entered into the
software. It is also essential that the stylus tip and
calibration artefacts are scrupulously clean. The smallest
amount of dust can lead to an incorrect probe calibration.
Measuring the length of a known artefact e.g. a calibrated
block or plain setting ring, is a simple check on the probe
calibration. If the difference between the calibrated size of
the gauge block and the length you measure is not within
the machine uncertainty at this length, the probe should be
recalibrated and the check repeated [6].
For reliable calibration 25 to 50 touch points are
recommended for each stylus tip.
Figure 1. Probing system calibration
2.1. Calibration of the styli of CMM "Carl Zeiss
CONTURA G2 RDS"
The CONTURA G2 is a mid-range bridge type CMM
with advanced features and design strengths. All axes
have 4-sided Carl Zeiss air bearings providing maximum
stability and a very precise measurement. Ceramic
guideways are thermally stable, minimizing the effect of
temperature variation.
The calibration process of the measuring stylus depends
on the type of the measuring head with the inserted
probing system. This experiment utilizes the RDS turning
measuring head with the combination of VAST XXT
scanning measuring sensor. As a replacement for trigger
sensors, the VAST XXT offers the unmatched
measurement capability, reliability, and accuracy. With a
large deflection range and a low measuring force, it is a
very robust scanning sensor. It uses the styli lengths up to
250 mm, side and star styli, and a minimum ball radius of
0.3 mm. The VAST XXT has very low measuring forces
and there is little influence when swivelling. When the
RDS head is used, the CMM can probe the workpiece
from a large number of different directions by adjusting A
and B angles. Every RDS position wanted to be utilized
for probing is considered to be its own stylus and must be
calibrated separately. A stylus must be qualified when and
if there is a new stylus system installed and there is a need
for the re-calibration of a stylus system, for example after
a collision or due to thermal changes. The calibration of
the measuring stylus is performed with the reference
sphere. The reference sphere of the CMM is a sphere of a
known diameter mounted on the measuring table via a
stem. The software (Calypso) must know the exact
position of this reference sphere for the orientation and in
order to analyze the calibration correctly. The position of
the reference sphere on a measuring table is determined
by the calibration of the master measuring stylus. After
this calibration id s performed, the next step is the
calibration of measuring styli. In order to decide whether
the calibration result is acceptable, standard deviation can
be used as a basic for the decision. Acceptable standard
deviation depends at least on the following factors:
quality of the calibration, length and stability of the styli
and extensions used, value of the temperature deviations
and temporal thermal fluctuations on the CMM, degree of
soiling, wear, damage of the reference spheres, existence
of loose or damaged stylus and/or extension elements.
The standard deviation should lie in the range of a few
micrometers.
The first calibration of a stylus must be done manually.
Once the stylus has been calibrated for the first time,
future calibration can be done automatically [7].
3. EXPERIMENTAL WORK
The calibration of the measuring stylus is an obligatory
procedure preceding every measuring task. The procedure
is performed automatically, although with the first
calibration, the operator has to provide the contact
between the measuring stylus and the reference sphere.
This contact should happen at the point at the top of the
calibration sphere, passed through by the axis line of the
measuring sensor containing the measuring stylus centre
and the axis line of the reference sphere. Since this is
relative, this paper determines the dependence of the
calibration results in relation to the deviated contact point
in the positive direction of the x axis (Figure 2). Previous
researches have determined that, for the deviation value
larger than 3.5 mm, there is an angle deviation during the
calibration, i.e. the software will signal an error and the
value of the standard deviation reaches even the tenth part
of the millimetre [1]. Changing the angle to zero tells
Calypso to rotate the stylus system path by the deviation
angle, ensuring that the sphere measurement path follows
the centre line of the sphere and does not touch the shank
of the stylus [9]. Software uses the information to
calculate the centre of the sphere, which, relative to this
centre, will look at the first point. If the first point lies
within an internal tolerance of where it should be, the full
sphere is measured.
Figure 2. Experiment performance procedure
After the calibration of the master stylus, the next
calibration is the one of the styli with the radius of 3 mm
(Figure 3). The calibration process for the styli is
performed in every contact point of the measuring stylus
and the reference sphere with the deviation of 0.5 mm in
the positive direction of the x axis until the value of 3.5
mm (Figure 2). The value of the standard deviation is
monitored for every deviation of the contact point that
begins the calibration process. For static analysis of the
results to be performed, the same procedure has been
repeated six times.
 Figure 3. CMM Carl Zeiss CONTURA G2 RDS, reference sphere and styli

The second variation parameter in the experiment is the
orientation of the reference sphere. Reference sphere has
four different orientations, while the position on the
measuring table of the machine remains unchanged
(Figure 4). Previously described calibration procedure has
been repeated for all four diverse orientations.
As a calibration method, all cases utilize the qualify
passive stylus method. Four points are first probed for
position determination, followed by the required number
of points for stylus calibration.
The paper presents the influence of the calibration results
by varying the starting point calibration and the
orientations reference sphere. Other influential factors
determining the standard deviation value are neglected or
maintained at a constant level. The ambient
environmental conditions during the experiments in the
laboratory have been recorded. The room temperature is
maintained within the range 20.00.5C; while the
humidity is maintained at 502%.

3.1. Calibration results

It has been observed that in the total of 192 calibration
procedures, the standard deviation did not have the value
larger than the tenth part of millimetre. Results are
presented by the number of different orientations
Figure 4. Different orientations of the reference sphere[7]
reference sphere. The table overview is presented for
standard deviations for the first orientation calibration
sphere (Table 1).

Table 1. Standard deviation for first orientation reference sphere [mm]

No. of measurement
________________
1 2 3 4 5 6
Starting point
calibration
0.0 [mm] 0.0000 0.0001 0.0001 0.0000 0.0000 0.0001
0.5 [mm] 0.0000 0.0001 0.0000 0.0000 0.0001 0.0001
1.0 [mm] 0.0000 0.0001 0.0000 0.0001 0.0000 0.0001
1.5 [mm] 0.0000 0.0001 0.0001 0.0000 0.0001 0.0001
2.0 [mm] 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0001 0.0000 0.0001
2.5 [mm] 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
3.0 [mm] 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0000 0.0001
3.5 [mm] 0.0002 0.0003 0.0002 0.0003 0.0005 0.0001
The software package MiniTab is used for the static data representations for the analysis of variance. A Multi-Vari
processing. The influence of the contact point between the chart allows the user to observe patterns of variation in
measuring stylus and the reference sphere in initiating the the output of a process that can correlate with
calibration procedure and the orientation reference sphere simultaneous multiple potential input variables. The
onto the standard deviation is presented in a Multi-Vari advantage of a Multi-Vari chart over other graphical
chart (Figure 5). Multi-Vari charts are powerful graphical methods is that it allows the graphical representation
multiple families of variation on a single chart. A Multi- down to a precious few by focusing the attention on the
Vari analysis can help narrowing a list of potential causes sources of variation that need further study [8].

Figure 5. Multi-Vari chart for standard deviation by starting point calibration-orientation reference sphere

The presented diagram refers that the starting calibration Update. CIRP Annals-Manufacturing Technology, 57,
contact point between the stylus and the reference sphere 660-675.
does not have any influence on the standard variation [5] SALAH H. R. ALI (2010). Probing System
value until the measure of 3.5 mm. It can be observed that Characteristics in Coordinate Metrology.
with the first orientation reference sphere there appears a Measurement Science Review. Vol. 10, No 4.
greater result dispersion, while with the other three, the [6] DAVID FLACK (2001). Cmm Probing. Measurement
standard deviation values are constant. However, it can be Good Practice Guide No. 43. National Physical
concluded that even the diverse orientation reference Laboratory Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex,
sphere at the same position on the measuring machine United Kingdom.
table does not influence the calibration value. [7] CARL ZEISS (2008). Calypso Basics, Operating
Instruction. Revision 4.8. Oberkochen, Germany.
4. CONCLUSION [8] WALTER W. MCLNTYRE (2009). Lean and Mean
Process Improvement. United States of America.
From all the above it can be concluded that the [9] http://www.cms-home.com/Applications_Tip_2.pdf
parameters like starting calibration point and the
orientation reference sphere insignificantly influence the Acknowledgement
standard deviation. The confirmation of this hypothesis
should be presented by mathematical values, which is the Results of investigation presented in this paper are part of
objective of future research, same as the research aimed at the research realized in the framework of the project
the position deviation of the reference sphere on a Research and Development of Modelling Methods and
machines measuring table and the usage of diverse stylus Approaches in Manufacturing Dental Recoveries with the
configurations. Application of Modern Technologies and Computer Aided
Systems TR 035020, financed by the Ministry of
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