Tool alignment on the B axis rotary table of an ultra-precision lathe machine

The accuracy and efficiency of tool alignment on the B axis rotary table of an ultra-precision lathe machine are improved using a method to find the circle center from three points. The image recognition tool setting technique avoids the effect of wear on a single point diamond cutting tool and problems when the tool tip is outside the image processing field and different coordinate systems are solved in the image processing and the lathe machine. The turning of a Fresnel lens mold is used to verify the precision of the image recognition tool alignment method on the B axis rotary table with the tool alignment error obtained by detecting the circle radius of the sharp corner of the V shaped grooves. The tool alignment error is 0.8 μm as measured by a laser microscope, which is in the theoretical range of 1 μm calculated in advance. The results show that the method is suitable for ultra-precision cutting with predictable and controllable tool alignment precision.