We just started to conduct Ballbar tests in-house as part of our Equipment Qualifications. We will be running these on a quarterly basis or after any major crash. We will be conducting the tests on all equipment, but I decided to start with our HAAS Mills. We have seven VF-3SS's that are pretty much our work horses for 5-Axis machining. I have the basics of the ballbar test and software down. I am trying to set some machine tolerances, basically an acceptable range that we can run in and anything greater we would need to get maintenance/service involved to troubleshoot the machine.
I did start with my HFO Service Coordinator, but haven't come up with any data yet. I would think HAAS and any OEM would have an acceptable range for say circularity?
For reference one of our brand new VF-3SS's that was tested had a circularity of 0.000457in and another VF-3SS that is almost a year old tested at 0.001087in. That’s quite a difference in my mind, but may still be acceptable?