Hughes, E B; Forbes, A B; Lewis, A; Sun, W; Veal, D; Nasr, K (2011) Laser tracker error determination using a network measurement. Meas. Sci. Technol., 22 (4). 045103

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Abstract

We report on a fast, easily implemented method to determine all the geometrical alignment errors of a laser tracker, to high precision. The technique requires no specialist equipment and can be performed in under an hour. The technique is based on the determination of parameters of a geometric model of the laser tracker, using measurements of a set of fixed target locations, from multiple locations of the tracker. After fitting of the model parameters to the observed data, the model can be used to perform error correction of the raw laser tracker data or to derive correction parameters in the format of the tracker manufacturer¿s internal error map. In addition to determination of the model parameters, the method also determines the uncertainties and correlations associated with the parameters. We have tested the technique on a commercial laser tracker in the following way. We disabled the tracker's internal error compensation, and used a five position, fifteen target network to estimate all the geometric errors of the instrument. Using the error map generated from this network test, the tracker was able to pass a full performance validation test, conducted according to a recognised specification standard. We conclude that the error correction determined from the network test is as effective as the manufacturer's own error correction methodologies.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	laser trackers, uncertainty, large volume metrology, geometric error, interferometer, absolute distance meter, network test, error mapping, mathematical modelling, coordinate metrology, performance verification
Subjects:	Engineering Measurements Engineering Measurements > Dimensional
Identification number/DOI:	10.1088/0957-0233/22/4/045103
Last Modified:	02 Feb 2018 13:14
URI:	http://eprintspublications.npl.co.uk/id/eprint/4943

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