Performance and testing

System performance

Performance specifications are verified to international procedures against a documented system error budget.  System accuracy is quoted to 95% confidence level (k = 2), which is valid across the full environmental operating range.

Without reliable and accurate wavelength compensation, errors of 20 ppm - 30 ppm would be common; even under typical environmental conditions. Great effort has been taken to ensure Renishaw’s XC-80 compensation system and sensors are accurate across the entire operating range of the system. It is this that maintains ±0.5 ppm linear measurement accuracy from 0 ºC - 40 ºC (32 ºF - 104 ºF) and over the full air pressure range.

Environmental sensor performance

 * Choose one of 12 pre-defined capture rates.

Measurement performance 

Measurement specifications for each of the measurement options can be found in the Measurement optics section.

System specifications

Renishaw operates a policy of continual improvement. Specifications given in these pages are accurate to the best of our knowledge. However Renishaw reserves the right to change product appearance and specification without notice and customers should always seek confirmation at the time of enquiry.

Rigorous testing to give you confidence

The frequency, accuracy and stability of all new lasers (XL-80) together with the sensing and compensation accuracy of environmental compensators (XC-80) are guaranteed to meet the published specification (± 0.5 ppm for linear measurement accuracy) on shipment from Renishaw.

With rigorous testing, and verifiable specifications Renishaw is proud of its transparency in discussions regarding system accuracy specification, certification and traceability.  When you are dealing with laser system accuracy even the smallest detail matters. Renishaw knows this and  welcomes enquiries from customers who wish to discuss this in more detail.

For more details see the attached  PDF download Application note: Specification, certification, recalibration or visit the Quality page.

Calibration certificates

The QC20-W ballbar, XL-80 laser, XC-80 compensator and RX10 rotary indexer (and their ML10 and QC10 equivalents) are supplied with comprehensive calibration certificates including details of test result 'traceability'. Example certificates can be downloaded from the certification support page. Copies of lost certificates can be provided (a fee is charged). Please contact lcpdproduct.support@renishaw.com

Validated performance

The performance specification of Renishaw's ML10 system has been validated by numerous calibrations of customer equipment carried out by UK National Physics Laboratory (NPL) over the last 15 years. The graph below shows the results of all 79 NPL calibrations of ML10 systems (ML10 and EC10 environmental compensation unit) carried out over this period. It clearly shows that the system's measured linear measurement error is tightly distributed around zero and system accuracy (including uncertainty of measurement) is well within Renishaw's published specification of ± 0.7 ppm.

With the same attention to design, manufacture and testing now built into every XL-80 system, you can be confident that with Renishaw you will experience an assured specification and system performance.