self-calibration: reversal, redundancy, error separation and absolute testing

Course Content

Over the years many techniques have been developed for accurate measurement of workpiece features without reference to an externally calibrated artefact. This tutorial will present a partial survey of such methods for dimensional metrology, their ranges of applications, and their limits. A broad range of applications will be covered, including methods for flatness, squareness, straightness, level, probe ball calibration, angle and linear scale calibration and figure metrology of optical surfaces. The tutorial attempts to distil common features of the various methods in the hope that this may provide the basis, or inspiration, for the development of "new" reversals or aid the development of new combinations of techniques to address specific metrology problems. All techniques will be covered first at the conceptual, mechanistic level; then each will be treated with appropriate analytical tools. Most techniques require no more than simple algebra and trigonometry; a few require mathematical skills typical for graduate engineers.

Participant(s) Profile

Graduate
Postgraduate engineers/physicists
Post-doctoral researchers in manufacturing and metrology for precision applications

Tutorial Outcome

Participants should gain proficiency in measurement modelling and design to take advantage of natural symmetries and constraints so that systematic errors can be removed in the process of data acquisition and analysis.

Brief CV(s)

Tutor 1: Dr. W. Tyler Estler >>>

Tutor 2: Dr. Chris J. Evans >>>