Error significance analysis and compensation for HPKMs

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe a novel error‐ranking methodology and two compensation strategies for hybrid parallel kinematic machines (HPKMs). Design/methodology/approach The paper outlines an error analysis methodology developed for HPKMs and applies the technique to a typical industrial HPKM. Based on the results of this, two compensation strategies are developed and implemented, for both mass‐induced and thermal errors. Findings The paper demonstrates and quantifies the performance improvements possible with appropriate error compensation strategies. Originality/value The paper introduces a novel and generic methodology for error source analysis and describes two fully implemented compensation strategies which result in a significantly improved level of system performance.