The ball bar gauge has become widely recognized as the most practical, convenient, and comprehensive tool for evaluating the contour machining accuracy of CNC machine tools worldwide.

Renishaw golf club has dominated the market for nearly 20 years, and now with the QC20-W wireless golf club system, it still holds a leading position in the market.

Renishaw ball bar instrument performs simple and fast testing of the positioning performance of CNC machine tools according to recognized international standards (such as ISO, ASME, etc.), allowing users to benchmark and track the performance of machine tools, and quickly diagnose problems and error sources that cause these problems.

Regularly conducting ball bar testing on machine tools can help

Ensure that CNC machine tools can process qualified parts in one go

Reduce machine downtime, lower scrap rates, and lower testing costs

Display whether the machine tool meets the performance and quality management standards of the machine tool

Implement preventive maintenance plans based on actual situations

The Renishaw QC20-W ballbar system consists of a ballbar body (primarily a high-precision telescopic linear sensor with a precision ball at each end) and two precision magnetic bowl holders. One (adjustable) magnetic bowl holder is connected to the machine worktable, while the other is connected to the machine spindle or spindle box. In use, the precision ball of the sensor is fixed to the magnetic ball bowl in a three-point mechanical positioning manner. When the machine tool travels along a predetermined circular trajectory around the center seat on the worktable, this installation method allows the ball bar gauge to measure small changes in the radius of the machine tool.

The collected data is sent to a computer, and Renishaw's software calculates the overall measurement value of positioning accuracy (roundness, roundness deviation) based on international standards such as ISO 230-4, ASME B5.54, or Renishaw's own analysis report. This report uses a unique mathematical analysis method to diagnose numerous additional individual machine tool errors through a set of linear readings. The data is displayed in both graphical and numerical formats to assist and support fault diagnosis.

Ball club history record

The golf club instrument emerged after the research and development achievements of James B. Bryan at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in the United States. In 1984, James B. Bryan obtained a US patent for his "telescopic magnetic club tester". In 1991, Renishaw introduced its first QC10 Mk1, followed by the QC10 Mk2 the following year. The QC10 Mk2 used a serial interface instead of the Mk1's built-in PC interface board.

The production of QC10 continued until October 2009, and was replaced by the QC20-W system. The new QC20-W system adopts new sensors designed by Renishaw Bluetooth ® Bluetooth wireless technology has powerful upgrade testing and analysis capabilities. Renishaw ballbar is widely used, including thousands of machine tool users worldwide, and is regarded as an important equipment by most leading machine tool manufacturers (OEMs) and their distributors, independent calibration service providers, and end-users.

The Renishaw QC20-W ballbar consists of a ballbar body (mainly a high-precision telescopic linear sensor with a precision ball at each end) and a precision magnetic gauge holder, one (adjustable) connected to the machine worktable and the other connected to the machine spindle or spindle box. In use, the precision ball of the sensor is mechanically fixed to the magnetic ball bowl. When the machine tool travels along a predetermined circular trajectory around the center seat on the worktable, this installation method allows the ball bar gauge to measure small changes in the radius of the machine tool.
Regularly conducting ball bar testing on machine tools can help
Ensure that CNC machine tools can process qualified parts in one go
Reduce machine downtime, lower scrap rates, and lower testing costs
• Demonstrate whether the test results meet the performance and quality management standards of the machine tool under different parameter changes
Implement preventive maintenance plans based on actual situations

Characteristics and advantages of QC20-W
By adopting Renishaw's new QC20-W ballbar system, the testing of telescopic ballbars has become simpler and more powerful.
The QC20-W system is based on Renishaw's years of experience in golf club testing, and compared to the existing QC10 system, it has better performance and more significant operational advantages.
·Bluetooth wireless technology ensures no need to deal with cable issues, operates with the protective door closed, and reduces the possibility of system damage.
·The new hardware and software allow you to perform "partial arc" (220 °) testing. The flexibility of testing has been improved, including:
Improved Z-axis testing (no need for customized fixtures)
Reduced the requirement for axis travel (typically the Z-axis of the machining center and the X-axis of the lathe)
Only one center setting is needed to test 3 planes, using the "Partial Arc Test" to test 3 planes, and then presenting the "Spatial Analysis"
·The data reading speed is faster, which can improve the analysis ability for small test circles and high feed rates.
·The improved software also includes many new features, expands the testing scope, and is more convenient to use.