Applies to: DentalCNC 8.10

Calibrating the machine with calibration specimens

General information on calibration

Mind the difference between test specimens and calibration specimens

Test specimens and calibration specimens differ in shape and functionality:

• Test specimens are used to test if the machine needs to be calibrated.

• Calibration specimens are used to calibrate the machine.

Manufacturing a test specimen

Create orders for calibration and test specimens directly in DentalCNC and not with DentalCAM.

1. In the Machine maintenance view, select the following icon in the left column:

• DentalCNC opens the Machining view and adds a job for the test specimen to the job list.

2. Select the job you created in step 1.

• The job details display.

Example of displayed values and graphics
1. Labels designating the specimen
2. Required tool to mill the specimen
3. Preview of the milled specimen
3. Prepare the machine as follows:

   1. Mount/load the calibration blank into the working chamber.

      R5: Mount the blank directly into the working chamber.

   2. Insert the calibration tool into the tool magazine of your machine and into the virtual tool magazine in DentalCNC.

4. Machine the job like any other job.
• The machine manufactures the specimen.
5. Continue with measuring the specimen.

Measuring the test specimen

The cube in the middle of most specimens is the measuring points M (referred to as 'cube M').

Pictures of test specimens of all machines

Procedure

1. Remove the test specimen from the machine.

2. Separate the parts of the following test specimens as shown:



 



 

3. For correct measurement results, remove all machining residues from the test or calibration specimen with a small brush.

4. (Recommended) Put the individual parts of the specimen onto a flat surface so that you can use both hands to handle the micrometer.

5. Check if the zero point of the micrometer is set correctly.

6. Measure the measuring points of the machine-specific specimen:

   • Enter the measuring values in the machine-specific test table under step 7.

     Alternative: Record each measuring value on a piece of paper.

   • (Recommended) Label the body with a name and date (e.g., “Test specimen – June 2021”).

   The measuring points of the machine-specific bodies:

E5, K4 edition, K5, K5+, R5, S1, S2, S5

1. Ignore the slanted surfaces (A, B) as they are only required for calibration.

2. Measure the width and height of the measuring points, which are labeled with circles.



 

3. Measure the height of the measuring points which are labeled with bars.



Bars labeling the triangle marked blue

NOTICE! Incorrect measurement results, if you apply the micrometer incorrectly to the M cube

4. Measure the width and the height of the cube M.

   • Measure the height and width as shown in the following figure.

   • When measuring the width, place the micrometer at the top of the cube (area marked in green).

   

N4, N4+

1. Measure the width and height of the measuring points, which are labeled with circles.



 

2. Measure the height of the measuring points which are labeled with bars.



Measuring the height of a cube labeled with a bar (marked blue)

NOTICE! Incorrect measurement results if you place the outside micrometer at the bottom of the cube M when measuring the width

3. Measure the width and the height of the cube M.

   • Measure the height and width as shown in the following figure.

   • When measuring the width, place the micrometer at the top of the cube (area marked in green).

   

E4, Z4



The test and calibration specimen of the Z4



The test and calibration specimen of the E4

1. Measure the length of the line segments X and Y.

2. Measure the height of Z1, Z2, Z3.



Z4: Measure the height of Z1 (left arrow) and Z3 (right arrow); Z2 in analogy to Z3



E4

E3

1. Measure the height of the measuring points that begin with H.

2. Measure the width of the measuring points that begin with B.

   

    

7. Check if you need to calibrate the machine by comparing the measuring values with the values in the machine-specific table.

   Optionally and in addition to the manual check, use the machine-specific interactive form.

E5, K4 edition, K5, K5+, R5, S1, S2, S5

Surfaces A and B are used for calibration only

Measuring position	Width	Height
Cube ●	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm
Cube ●●	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm
Cube ●●●	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm
Cube ●●●●	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm
Cube M	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm
Triangle | and Triangle ||	–	Difference max. 0.1 mm

Example: The values “Triangle | 7.151 mm” and “Triangle || 7.195 mm” differ by less than 0.1 mm (difference:0.044 mm) and are thus within tolerance.

The values “Triangle | 6.845 mm” and “Triangle || 6.946 mm” differ by more than 0.1 mm (difference: 0.101 mm) and are thus out of tolerance.

• Enter your measuring values in mm in the following fields:

Cube ●

Width Height

Cube ●●

Width Height

Cube ●●●

Width Height

Cube ●●●●

Width Height

Cube M

Width Height

Triangle |

Height

Triangle ||

Height



• Select Check. Values outside the tolerance are marked in red.

Check Reset

N4, N4+

Measuring position	Width	Height
Cube ●	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm
Cube ●●	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm
Cube ●●●	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm
Cube ●●●●	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm
Cube M	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm
Block | and Block ||	Difference max. 0.1 mm

Example: The values “Block | 7.151 mm” and “Block|| 7.195 mm” differ by less than 0.1 mm (difference: 0.044 mm) and are thus within tolerance.

The values “Block | 6.845 mm” and “Block || 6.946 mm” differ by more than 0.1 mm (difference: 0.101 mm) and are thus out of tolerance.

• Enter your measuring values in mm in the following fields:

Cube ●

Width Height

Cube ●●

Width Height

Cube ●●●

Width Height

Cube ●●●●

Width Height

Cube M

Width Height

Block |

Height

Block ||

Height



• Select Check. Values outside the tolerance are marked in red.

Check Reset

E4, Z4

Measuring position	Value
X	19.95 mm–20.05 mm
Y	17.95 mm–18.05 mm
Z1	7.95 mm – 8.05 mm
Z2 & Z3	Difference max. 0.1 mm

• Enter your measuring values in mm in the following fields:

X

Length

Y

Length

Z1

Height

Z2

Height

Z3

Height



• Select Check. Values outside the tolerance are marked in red.

Check Reset

E3

Measuring position	Value
H1	5.85 mm – 6.15 mm
H2	5.85 mm – 6.15 mm
B1	4.92 mm – 5.08 mm
B2	9.92 mm – 10.08 mm
B3 and B4	Difference: max. 0.2 mm

• Enter your measuring values in mm in the following fields:

H1

Height

H2

Height

B1

Length

B2

Length

B3

Length

B4

Length



• Select Check. Values outside the tolerance are marked in red.

Check Reset

• If all measuring values are withing the range of tolerance, a calibration is not necessary. Otherwise, continue with machining and measuring a calibration specimen.

Step 4: Manufacture calibration specimens, measure them and enter measured values in DentalCNC

Manufacturing a calibration specimen

1. In the Machine maintenance view, select the following icon in the left column:

• DentalCNC opens the Machining view and adds a job for the calibration specimen to the job list.

2. Select the job you created in step 1.

• The job details display.

Example of displayed values and graphics
1. Labels designating the specimen
2. Required tool to mill the specimen
3. Preview of the milled specimen
3. Prepare the machine as follows:

   1. Mount/load the calibration blank into the working chamber.

      R5: Mount the blank directly into the working chamber.

   2. Insert the calibration tool into the tool magazine of your machine and into the virtual tool magazine in DentalCNC.

4. Machine the job like any other job.
• The machine manufactures the specimen. The Enter measuring values of the calibration specimen window opens.
5. Continue with measuring the specimen.

Measuring the calibration specimen

The cube in the middle of most specimens is the measuring points M (referred to as 'cube M').

Pictures of calibration specimens of all machines

Procedure

1. Remove the calibration specimen from the machine.

2. Separate the parts of the following calibration specimens as shown:



 



 

3. For correct measurement results, remove all machining residues from the test or calibration specimen with a small brush.

4. (Recommended) Put the individual parts of the specimen onto a flat surface so that you can use both hands to handle the micrometer.

5. Check if the zero point of the micrometer is set correctly.

6. Measure the measuring points of the machine-specific specimen:

   • Enter the values directly in DentalCNC.

   • (Recommended) Label the body with a name and date (e.g., “Calibration specimen – June 2021”).

   The measuring points of the machine-specific bodies:

E5, K4 edition, K5, K5+, R5, S1, S2, S5

1. Measure the width and height of the measuring points, which are labeled with circles.



 

2. Measure the height of the measuring points which are labeled with bars.



Bars labeling the triangle marked blue

NOTICE! Incorrect measurement results, if you apply the micrometer incorrectly to the M cube

3. Measure the width and the height of the cube M.

   • Measure the height and width as shown in the following figure.

   • When measuring the width, place the micrometer at the top of the cube (area marked in green).

   

4. (K5, K5+, S1, S2, S5) Measure the distance between the opposite inclined surfaces:

   There are 2 pairs of this surface (A, B) that you need to measure.

   • The inclined surface A is marked with a dot on the upper side of the calibration specimen.

   • The inclined surface B is not marked.

   

   Inclined surface A with point on the upper side

   

    

   

    

N4, N4+

1. Measure the width and height of the measuring points, which are labeled with circles.



 

2. Measure the height of the measuring points which are labeled with bars.



Measuring the height of a cube labeled with a bar (marked blue)

NOTICE! Incorrect measurement results if you place the outside micrometer at the bottom of the cube M when measuring the width

3. Measure the width and the height of the cube M.

   • Measure the height and width as shown in the following figure.

   • When measuring the width, place the micrometer at the top of the cube (area marked in green).

   

E4, Z4



The test and calibration specimen of the Z4



The test and calibration specimen of the E4

1. Measure the length of the line segments X and Y.

2. Measure the height of Z1, Z2, Z3.



Z4: Measure the height of Z1 (left arrow) and Z3 (right arrow); Z2 in analogy to Z3



E4

E3

1. Measure the height of the measuring points that begin with H.

2. Measure the width of the measuring points that begin with B.

   

    

7. Continue with entering the measuring values into DentalCNC.

Enter measuring values of the calibration specimen in DentalCNC

• NOTICE! Never enter measuring values of a test specimen into DentalCNC. This leads to an incorrect calibration and imprecise manufacturing results.

1. Icons for measuring points

2. Input fields for the width of the measuring point

3. Input fields for the height of the measuring point

Icons for measuring points

1. Enter the measuring values of the calibration specimen:

E4, Z4

1. Enter the height of the measuring points Z1, Z2, Z3.
2. Enter the length of the line segment X, Y.

Other machines

1. Enter the height and width of all measuring points which are labeled with circles.
2. Enter the height values of all measuring points which are labeled with bars.
3. Enter the height and width value of the cube M.
4. S1, S2, S5, K5, K5+: If a new Y end switch or ball screw drive was installed, enter the height values of the slanted surfaces A, B.
2. To confirm your input, select the following icon:
• The current window closes. A dialog window opens.
3. Confirm the current message.

Step 5: Checking the calibration

• Mill and measure a test specimen. Verify that the measuring values are within tolerance.  Manufacture and measure a test specimen

• If the measuring values are within tolerance, the calibration was successful.