Measurement uncertainty evaluation of a hexapod-structured calibration device for multi-component force and moment sensors

As a reference measurement machine for multi-component force and moment sensors of up to six components, a hexapod-structured calibration device was developed at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt in 2001. The machine can generate and measure forces of up to 10 kN and moments of up to 1 kN · m. In this paper, the measurement uncertainty budget of the machine is analyzed, beginning with an improved physical model and calculation of sensitivity coefficients using the implicit function theorem and the Monte Carlo method. The main influencing factors for the measurement uncertainty are discussed and suggestions for further reduction of the uncertainty are given.