XL-80

The Renishaw XL-80 laser interferometer is the benchmark for ultimate precision calibration of machine tools and coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). With a resolution of 1 nm, linear accuracy of ±0.5 ppm, a measurement range of 80 m, and a sampling rate of 50 kHz, it enables comprehensive geometric error measurement, dynamic performance analysis, and error compensation, making it the “gold standard” for precision manufacturing accuracy control.

Core Applications and Operating Principle

Core Applications: Ultimate precision calibration, acceptance testing, compensation, and performance diagnostics for CNC machine tools, CMMs, and precision motion platforms, providing absolute precision data traceable to international standards (Renishaw).

Operating Principle: Based on the Michelson interferometer method

A helium-neon laser emits a stable laser beam, which is split by a beam splitter into a reference beam and a measurement beam.

The measurement beam moves with the machine tool, producing interference fringes with the reference beam; the number of fringes corresponds to the displacement.

The signal processing unit converts the optical signal into an electrical signal. After environmental compensation (temperature, humidity, pressure, and atmospheric refractive index) via the XC-80, it outputs high-precision displacement data.

System Components: XL-80 laser head + XC-80 environmental compensator + linear/angular/straightness/perpendicularity optical assemblies + CARTO software + tripod/mounting fixture.

Technical Specifications (Standard Version)

Core Measurement Functions (Full Geometric Error Coverage)
1. Linear Accuracy Measurement (Core)
Positioning Accuracy / Repeatability: Measures positioning error and repeatability over the entire axis travel range in accordance with ISO 230-2/GB 17421.2 standards.
Backlash / Pitch Error: Precisely measures the axis’s backlash and cumulative pitch error, generating a pitch compensation table that can be directly imported into systems such as FANUC, Siemens, and Mitsubishi.
Long-Travel Measurement: An 80-meter range accoMmodates calibration for gantry machines, large machining centers, and long-travel CMMs.
2. Angular Error Measurement
Pitch / Yaw / Roll: Measures angular deviation during axis movement using optical angular components, with an accuracy of **±0.1 arcsec**.
Perpendicularity Error: Measures the perpendicularity between two axes (e.g., X-Y, Y-Z) for machine tool geometric adjustment.
3. Shape and Position Error Measurement
Straightness Error: Single-axis straightness (horizontal/vertical), used for guideway accuracy assessment.
Flatness Error: Multi-axis combined measurement of table flatness.
Parallelism Error: Measurement of parallelism between two guideways or axes.
4. Dynamic Performance Testing
Servo Response / Tracking Error: Measures dynamic errors during high-speed motion to optimize servo parameters.
Vibration / Shock Analysis: Captures micro-vibrations at a high sampling rate of 50 kHz to diagnose mechanical resonance.
5. Rotary Axis Calibration (Optional XR20-W)
When paired with the XR20-W wireless rotary axis calibrator, it measures indexing accuracy, rotational accuracy, backlash, and angular runout with an accuracy of up to 1 arcsec, suitable for 5-axis machine tools and turn-mill combinations.
Core Advantages
Ultimate Precision: 1 nm resolution + ±0.5 ppm accuracy, meeting precision machining requirements of IT4 grade and above.
Extended Range: 80 m linear measurement, covering large machine tools and long-sTroke equipment.
High-Speed Dynamics: 4 m/s speed + 50 kHz sampling, enabling dynamic accuracy analysis during high-speed motion.
Environmental Adaptability: XC-80 fully automatic compensation eliminates the effects of temperature, humidity, pressure, and air refractive index, enabling direct measurement in shop floor environments.
Efficient and User-Friendly: <6-minute warm-up + LED signal indicators + intuitive CARTO software allow for rapid single-operator setup, significantly reducing calibration time.
Portable and Flexible: A 12 Kg portable system enables rapid on-site deployment and can be shared across multiple machines.
Compliance with Standards: Meets international standards such as ISO 230, VDI 3441, and GB 17421; reports are suitable for quality certification and customer audits.
System Compatibility: Supports all major CNC systems, automatically generates error compensation files, and imports them into the machine tool with a single click.
Typical Application Scenarios
New Machine Factory Acceptance: Generate accuracy reports in accordance with international standards to ensure the machine tool meets design specifications.
Periodic Accuracy Calibration: Annual/semi-annual preventive maintenance to establish accuracy records and track degradation trends.
Error Compensation Optimization: Measure lead, backlash, and geometric errors to generate compensation tables, improving machine tool accuracy by 30%–80%.
Fault Diagnosis: When machined dimensions are out of tolerance, quickly pinpoint whether the issue is geometric, servo, or mechanical.
Large-Scale Equipment Calibration: Gantry machining centers, floor-type boring and milling machines, long-travel CMMs, and precision motion platforms.
5-Axis / Turn-Mill Combination: When paired with the XR20-W, achieve full closed-loop calibration of linear and rotary axes.































 

XC-80 compensator and sensor

By using thermal control technology to control the length variation of the laser tube within a few nanometers, the accuracy can be maintained at + 0.05 ppm with in 3 years.

Maintaining measurement accuracy within the temperature range of 0 oC to 40 °C, interference measurement directly inherits the traceability of laser wavelength.

Renishaw's calibration results can be traced back to the signing institutions of the CIPM MRA, which provides a unifed measurement standard worldwide.

① Optical Assembly Mounting Kit

The optical assembly mounting kit is used to mount the measurement optical assembly onto the machine under test in various configurations.

② Magnetic Base

The magnetic base is used to mount the optical assembly or the XL-80 laser (when used in conjunction with the XL magnetic base adapter). The magnetic base features a switch to control the magnetic force, enabling quick installation, and includes an M8 threaded mounting hole. The system includes two magnetic bases.

③ Large-Angle Conical Mirror

This large-angle conical mirror is used to measure the straightness and perpendicularity of the machine’s vertical axis.

④ Straightness Base Plate

The straightness base plate is designed to mount the straightness mirror and the adjustable deflection mirror (or the laser alignment aid with a fixed deflection mirror) to perform certain vertical axis measurements. This base plate can also be used to mount linear or angular measurement optical assemblies.

⑤ Vertical Deflector

This adjustable deflector is used to guide the beam when measuring the straightness and perpendicularity of the machine’s vertical axis.

⑥ Rotating Mirror

The rotating mirror serves as an alignment aid when performing diagonal measurements in accordance with ANSI B5.54 and ISO 230-6 standards. It can also be used for measuring slant-bed lathes. The rotating mirror can be easily mounted on the measurement optical assembly using mounting screws.

⑦ Straightness Shutter

The straightness shutter can be used for measurement when the reflected beam and the output beam are in the same horizontal plane. When used in conjunction with the straightness optical assembly, it can be used to measure straightness in the vertical plane.

⑧ XL Magnetic Base Adapter

This adapter is used to mount a tripod head onto a magnetic base or any other mounting fixture with an M8 thread.

⑨ Fixed Deflector

The fixed deflector redirects the laser beam by 90°. Similar to the rotating mirror, it can be mounted on the measurement optical assembly to assist with alignment, primarily for applications where space around the measured axis is limited.

⑩ Tilt Adapter Assembly

The tilt adapter assembly allows the laser alignment device to be flexibly tilted between 0° and 90° and enables free horizontal rotation.

⑪ Long-Distance Linear Measurement Optical Assembly

When the distance is long, the laser beam spreads out. The outgoing and incoming laser beams may interfere with each other. The long-range linear assembly includes a beam splitter to separate the beams and a large-angle conical mirror to maintain beam separation. The integrated optical target facilitates beam alignment, enabling measurements over a range of 40 m to 80 m.

⑫ Compact Linear Measurement Optical Assembly

With the compact linear measurement optical assembly, the XL-80 laser interferometer can be used in applications requiring a compact and lightweight prism. This compact and lightweight prism weighs only 10% of a standard linear prism, which significantly reduces the prism’s impact on machine dynamics and offers more flexible mounting options. This optical assembly is suitable only for distances up to 4 m.

⑬ LS350 Laser Alignment Assist Mirror

This unique optical component is used to fine-tune the laser beam angle in both the horizontal and vertical planes, simplifying laser alignment to a single-step operation. The laser alignment assist mirror accelerates beam alignment for linear, angular, and straightness measurements, and its application is not limited to scenarios where the laser beam is directed straight or at a 90° angle.

⑭ Quarter-Wave Plate

A quarter-wave plate converts a linearly polarized laser beam into a circularly polarized beam. When used in linear measurements, this plate allows the replacement of a conical mirror with a flat mirror. Two coMmon applications for flat mirrors are high-resolution systems or situations where the measurement surface is perpendicular to the laser beam, such as on an XY stage. Such applications require a highly reflective surface.