Chapter 8 Ensuring Repeatability, Accuracy, and Resolution
Ensuring Accuracy
8-8 Getting Started Guide
8
Figure 8-4. Example of cosine error
To minimize cosine error, follow these guidelines:
• Take time to carefully check your optic alignment to ensure the laser
beam is traveling parallel to the machine travel.
• Watch for irregularities in your linear measurements. If the amount of
error is steadily increasing, you may have significant cosine error.
• Allow the temperature of the optics to stabilize before making the
measurement (approximately 5 to 10 minutes).
1
Laser head
2 Interferometer
assembly
3 Retroreflector at the
first measurement
position
4 Displacement along
the axis of
measurement
5 Retroreflector at the
second measurement
position
6 Axis of motion
7 Axis of measurement
8 Actual displacement
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
7