Development and Validation of a Calibration Gauge for Length Measurement Systems

Due to accuracy requirements, robots and machine-tools need to be periodically verified and calibrated through associated verification systems that sometimes use extensible guidance systems. This work presents the development of a reference artefact to evaluate the performance characteristics of different extensible precision guidance systems applicable to robot and machine tool verification. To this end, we present the design, modeling, manufacture and experimental validation of a reference artefact to evaluate the behavior of these extensible guidance systems. The system should be compatible with customized designed guides, as well as with commercial and existing telescopic guidance systems. Different design proposals are evaluated with finite element analysis, and two final prototypes are experimentally tested assuring that the design performs the expected function. An estimation of the uncertainty of the reference artefact is evaluated with a Monte Carlo simulation.