Woźniak A., Mayer J.R.R., Bałaziński M., Côté M., « Investigation on precise measurement of cutting tool edges using coordinate measuring machines », CIRP 2 nd International Conference on High Performance Cutting, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, 12-13 June 2006, on CD Investigation on precise measurement of cutting tool edges using coordinate measuring machines Adam Woźniak 1) , René Mayer 2) , Marek Bałaziński 2) , Mélissa Côté 2) 1) Institute of Metrology and Measuring Systems, Warsaw University of Technology, Św. A. Boboli 8 Street, 02-525 Warsaw, Poland Wozniaka@mchtr.pw.edu.pl 2) Département de génie mécanique, École Polytechnique, C.P. 6079, succ. Centre-ville, Montreal, Canada [Rene.Mayer, Marek.Balazinski, Melissa.Cote]@polymtl.ca Abstract: In this paper, the probe radius compensation problem during the measurement of tool cutting edges using a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) has been addressed. We first show that information about the real shape of the measured edges can be distorted using the CMM machine built-in data processing software for probe tip radius compensation. In order to accurately measure cutting tool edges which include discontinuous regions we propose to apply a new algorithm for the compensation of the probe radius in a CMM scanning process. The comparison of the measured cutting tool edge profile using the indigenous CMM software and the proposed method of probe radius compensation shows that our proposed method has better accuracy. Keywords: cutting tool edge, coordinate measuring machine, precise measurement, stylus tip radius compensation. 1. INTRODUCTION Advanced machining systems require high accuracy geometric features on cutting tools. For instance, the complex 3D geometries of tools and also the cutting tool edges are found to have a significant influence on machining performance and tool life. Many papers like [Fang et al., 2005] or [Thiele et al., 1999] present experimental and theoretical study on the effects of tool edge geometry in machining, such as cutting forces, cutting temperature, tool wear, tool life, chip formation and machined surface quality, but there is little investigation on the development of new methods of edge geometry measurement. Tool inspection using a contour projector or microscope gives a more qualitative then quantitative evaluation due to accuracy. Nowadays, the new generation high performance coordinate measuring machines (CMM) equipped with scanning probes offers new and effective possibilities for shape measurements. The accuracy of these high end CMM scanning probes is in the sub- micrometer range and thus could be useful for the measurement of precise geometric features of cutting tools. However, CMM data processing software is often designed