Geometry prediction of EDM-drilled holes and tool electrode shapes of micro-EDM process using simulation

EDM is an efficient machining process for the fabrication of a micro-metal hole with various advantages resulting from its characteristics of non-contact and thermal process. However, this process has a serious problem caused by the tool wear, which significantly deteriorates the machining accuracy. In this paper, a geometric simulation model of EDM drilling process with cylindrical tool is proposed to predict the geometries of tool and drilled hole. The geometries of tool and workpiece are represented by two-dimensional matrix. For accurate prediction of their geometries, the tool motion, the sparking gap width, the spark frequency, the crater made by a single spark, and the tool wear ratio are considered as simulation parameters. To verify the simulation model the prediction results are compared with the actual experimental ones. Consequently, it is shown that the geometry prediction results match the experimental ones well within the error of 13%. Developed model can be used in offline compensation of tool wear in the fabrication of a blind hole. For the purpose of this, a compensation scheme based on the developed model is introduced, it is then demonstrated that the scheme is successfully applied to an actual micro-hole machining.     

Geometric and force errors compensation in a 3-axis CNC milling machine

This paper proposes a new off line error compensation model by taking into accounting of geometric and cutting force induced errors in a 3-axis CNC milling machine. Geometric error of a 3-axis milling machine composes of 21 components, which can be measured by laser interferometer within the working volume. Geometric error estimation determined by back-propagation neural network is proposed and used separately in the geometric error compensation model. Likewise, cutting force induced error estimation by back-propagation neural network determined based on a flat end mill behavior observation is proposed and used separately in the cutting force induced error compensation model. Various experiments over a wide range of cutting conditions are carried out to investigate cutting force and machine error relation. Finally, the combination of geometric and cutting force induced errors is modeled by the combined back-propagation neural network. This unique model is used to compensate both geometric and cutting force induced errors simultaneously by a single model. Experimental tests have been carried out in order to validate the performance of geometric and cutting force induced errors compensation model.     

动态刀具补偿功能在数控铣削编程中的应用

在模具零件的数控铣削加工中,往往会遇到因受到刀具限制而无法用系统提供的指令格式直接编程的情况。使用CAD/CAM软件进行实体造型及编程,使得工作量大且空走刀占用时间较长,而熟练掌握和运用宏程序编程技术往往能够快速完成零件的编程和加工,使数控机床加工的潜力得以充分发挥。其中宏变量动态刀具补偿功能的应用,在实现粗、精加工余量控制以及零件边角倒圆的同时,刀具补偿值能随着加工程序的进程而变化,简化程序的编制,减少了程序的出错率,实现了机床连续加工,提高了生产效率。     

基于正交切削模型的铣削加工残余应力预测方法

提出了一种基于正交切削模型的铣削加工残余应力预测方法.针对直齿圆柱铣刀建立了铣削加工的平面应变有限元模型,并通过分段曲线限定不同温度下应力与应变间的关系,详细表明材料的加工硬化规律.有限元模型采用相关的实验数据进行了验证.在铣削用量确定的前提下,通过对航空铝合金70507451进行加工模拟,研究了直齿圆柱铣刀前角对已加工表面残余应力的影响.     

In-process prediction of cutting depths in end milling

In geometric adaptive control systems for the end milling process, the surface error is usually predicted from the cutting force owing to the close relationship between them, and the easiness of its measurement. Knowledge of the cutting depth improves the effectiveness of this approach, since different cutting depths result in different surface errors even if the measured cutting forces are the same. This work suggests an algorithm for estimating the cutting depth based on the pattern of cutting force. The cutting force pattern, rather than its magnitude, better reflects the change of the cutting depth, because while the magnitude is influenced by several cutting parameters, the pattern is affected mainly by the cutting depth. The proposed algorithm can be applied to extensive cutting circumstances, such as presence of tool wear, change of work material hardness, etc.     

Analytical prediction of chatter stability in ball end milling with tool inclination

The paper presents an analytical method to predict chatter stability in ball end milling with tool inclination. The chatter stability limits in ball end milling without the tool inclination have been predicted in the previous study by deriving directional milling force coefficients and then solving a simple quadratic equation. However, the tool is generally inclined and not perpendicular to the cut surface in practice. Therefore, a new method is developed to compute the directional milling force coefficients considering the tool inclination. It is confirmed that the chatter stability predicted by the proposed method agrees well with the experiments.     

微细电火花加工电极磨损几何形状研究及仿真

通过实验研究了微细电火花加工盲孔的电极损耗,并基于Matlab软件,在二维矩阵的基础上,通过选取网格设定大小,设定工具运动情况、放电间隙、放电间隙影响因子、单个脉冲去除凹坑大小及相对电极损耗率等参数,仿真电极形状变化的全过程。该模型经后续完善后可用于预测补偿。为了验证仿真模型,对比了仿真结果与实际实验,证明该仿真方法可行。     

Accuracy improvement of miniaturized machine tool: Geometric error modeling and compensation

A novel capacitance–sensor based multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) measurement system has been developed for measuring geometric errors of a miniaturized machine tool (mMT) overcoming the size limitations. In the present work five geometric error components of a three-axis mMT are measured simultaneously along each axis and the squareness errors are determined by the slopes of straightness error profiles. Least-squares fitting method is used to represent the analytical models of geometric errors. A kinematic chain consisting of various structural members of mMT is introduced to establish the positional relationships among its coordinate frames. Based on this kinematic chain a general volumetric error model has been developed to synthesize all geometric error components of a miniaturized machine tool. Then, a recursive compensation method is proposed to achieve error compensation efficiently. Test results show that the positioning accuracy of miniaturized machine tool has been improved with compensation.     

Tool deflection compensation in peripheral milling of curved geometries

This paper presents compensation of surface error due to cutting force-induced tool deflections in a peripheral milling process. Previous research attempts on this topic deal with error compensation in machining of straight geometries only. This paper is concerned with peripheral milling of variable curvature geometries where the workpiece curvature changes continuously along the path of cut. In the case of curved geometries, both process geometry and the cutting forces have shown to have strong dependence on workpiece curvature and hence variation of surface error along the path of cut. This calls for a different error compensation strategy than the one which is normally used for machining straight geometries. The present work is an attempt to improve accuracy in machining of curved geometries by use of CNC tool path compensation. Mechanistic model for cutting force estimation and cantilever beam model for cutter deflection estimation are used. The results based on machining experiments performed on a variety of geometries show that the dimensional accuracy can be improved significantly in peripheral milling of curved geometries.     

An experimental technique for the measurement of temperature on CBN tool face in end milling

An infrared radiation pyrometer with two optical fibers connected by a fiber coupler was developed and applied to the measurement of tool–chip interface temperature in end milling with a binderless CBN tool. The infrared rays radiated from the tool–chip interface and transmitted through the binderless CBN are accepted by the optical fiber inserted in the tool and are then sent to the pyrometer. A combination of the two fibers and the fiber coupler makes it possible to transmit the accepted rays to the pyrometer, which is set up outside of the machine tool. This method is very practical in end milling for measuring the temperature history at tool–chip interface during chip formation. The maximum tool–chip interface temperature in up milling of a 0.55% carbon steel is 480 °C when the cutting speed is 2.2 m/s and 560 °C at 4.4 m/s, and in the down milling, 500 °C at 2.2 m/s and 600 °C at 4.4 m/s.     

C机能二维刀补的计算机图形仿真

提出了一种采用计算机图形仿真来检验数控加工程序中刀具补偿代码正确的方法，利用VC＋＋6．0开发了相应的数控程序仿真软件，并就如何读取数控程序，分析数控代码的问题做了一些探讨。     

Accuracy enhancement of five-axis machine tool based on differential motion matrix: Geometric error modeling,identification and compensation

This paper presents the precision enhancement of five-axis machine tools according to differential motion matrix, including geometric error modeling, identification and compensation. Differential motion matrix describes the relationship between transforming differential changes of coordinate frames. Firstly, differential motion matrix of each axis relative to tool is established based on homogenous transformation matrix of tool relative to each axis. Secondly, the influences of errors of each axis on accuracy of tool are calculated with error vector of each axis. The sum of these influences is integration of error components of machine tool in coordinate system of tool. It endows the error modeling clear physical meaning. Moreover, integrated error components are transformed to coordinate frame of working table for integrated error transformation matrix of machine tools. Thirdly, constructed Jacobian is established using differential motion matrix of each axis without extra calculation to compensate the integrated error components of tool. It makes compensation easy and convenient with reuse of intermediate. Fourthly, six-circle method of ballbar is developed based on differential motion matrix to identify all ten error components of each rotary axis. Finally, the experiments are carried out on SmartCNC500 five-axis machine tool to testify the effectiveness of proposed accuracy enhancement with differential motion matrix.     

Error compensation in flexible end milling of tubular geometries

There are many machining situations where slender tools are used to machine thin walled tubular workpieces. Such instances are more common in machining of aircraft structural parts. In these cases, cutting force induced tool as well as workpiece deflections are quite common which result into surface error on machined components. This paper presents a methodology to compensate such tool and workpiece induced surface errors in machining of thin walled geometries by modifying tool paths. The accuracy with which deflections can be predicted strongly depends on correctness of the cutting force model used. Traditionally employed mechanistic cutting force models overestimate tool and workpiece deflections in this case as the change of process geometry due to deflections is not accounted in modeling. Therefore, a cutting force model accounting for change in process geometry due to static deflections of tool and workpiece is adopted in this work. Such a force model is used in predicting tool and workpiece deflection induced surface errors on machined components and then compensating the same by modifying tool path. The paper also studies effectiveness of error compensation scheme for both synclastic and anti-clastic configurations of tubular geometries.     

Process simulation using finite element method — prediction of cutting forces, tool stresses and temperatures in high-speed flat end milling

End milling of die/mold steels is a highly demanding operation because of the temperatures and stresses generated on the cutting tool due to high workpiece hardness. Modeling and simulation of cutting processes have the potential for improving cutting tool designs and selecting optimum conditions, especially in advanced applications such as high-speed milling. The main objective of this study was to develop a methodology for simulating the cutting process in flat end milling operation and predicting chip flow, cutting forces, tool stresses and temperatures using finite element analysis (FEA). As an application, machining of P-20 mold steel at 30 HRC hardness using uncoated carbide tooling was investigated. Using the commercially available software DEFORM-2D™, previously developed flow stress data of the workpiece material and friction at the chip–tool contact at high deformation rates and temperatures were used. A modular representation of undeformed chip geometry was used by utilizing plane strain and axisymmetric workpiece deformation models in order to predict chip formation at the primary and secondary cutting edges of the flat end milling insert. Dry machining experiments for slot milling were conducted using single insert flat end mills with a straight cutting edge (i.e. null helix angle). Comparisons of predicted cutting forces with the measured forces showed reasonable agreement and indicate that the tool stresses and temperatures are also predicted with acceptable accuracy. The highest tool temperatures were predicted at the primary cutting edge of the flat end mill insert regardless of cutting conditions. These temperatures increase wear development at the primary cutting edge. However, the highest tool stresses were predicted at the secondary (around corner radius) cutting edge.     

Active integration of tool deflection effects in end milling. Part 2. Compensation of tool deflection

This study presents a compensation method in milling machining in order to take into account tool deflection during tool-path generation. Tool deflection that occurs during machining, and especially when flexible tools such as end mills are used, can result in dimensional errors on workpieces. The study presented here is part two of a two-part paper. In part one the cutting force models and the surface prediction method have been presented.Here the focus is on tool deflection effects' integration during the generation of the tool path. A strategy is proposed that modifies the nominal tool trajectory, compensates for the machining errors due to tool deflection, without degrading the production performance and the machined accuracy. The methodology allows optimization of the tool path trajectory in order to achieved a specified tolerance. Some experimental results are presented.     

铣削力建模与计算机仿真

本文综合分析了切削过程中刀具几何参数对端铣铣削力的影响，对铣削力模型进行了修正，建立了适合端铣铣削力计算机仿真的铣削力模型。并对仿真结果与实际测试曲线进行了比较。     

Monitoring of tool fracture in end milling using induction motor current

This paper describes the use of induction motor current to monitor tool fracture in end milling operations. The principles of induction motors are studied in this paper to establish the relationship between the motor current and the motor torque. It is shown that the square of the stator current of induction motors is approximately proportional to the motor torque. Since the occurrence of tool fracture will cause variations in the motor torque, measurement of the stator current appears to be an indirect technique for monitoring tool fracture. A sensitivity analysis of the stator current to the occurrence of tool fracture is also reported. Finally, experimental results under varying cutting conditions have been presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach for the detection of tool fracture in end milling operations.     

Chatter suppression in micro end milling with process damping

Micro milling utilizes miniature micro end mills to fabricate complexly sculpted shapes at high rotational speeds. One of the challenges in micro machining is regenerative chatter, which is an unstable vibration that can cause severe tool wear and breakage, especially in the micro scale. In order to predict chatter stability, the tool tip dynamics and cutting coefficients are required. However, in micro milling, the elasto-plastic nature of micro machining operations results in large process damping in the machining process, which affects the chatter. We have used the equivalent volume interface between the tool and the workpiece to determine the process damping parameter. Furthermore, the accurate measurement of the tool tip dynamics is not possible through direct impact hammer testing. The dynamics at the tool tip is indirectly obtained by employing the receptance coupling method, and the mechanistic cutting coefficients are obtained from experimental cutting tests. Chatter stability experiments have been performed to examine the proposed chatter stability model in micro milling.     

A novel spindle inclination error identification and compensation method in ultra-precision raster milling

In the ultra-precision raster milling (UPRM) process, the existence of spindle inclination error can directly affect the dimensional accuracy of machined components. This study developed a novel spindle inclination error identification and compensation method based on the groove cutting in UPRM. In this method, the tilt angle of the intersection curve of two toruses (ICTT) generated from two neighboring rotary cuts in UPRM was measured to identify the spindle inclination error. A mathematical model was developed to simulate the ICTT profile and present the relationship between the tilt angle of ICTTs and the spindle inclination error by solving the differential of the ICTT function, by which the spindle inclination error can be solved under the given cutting parameters and the tilt angle of ICTTs. The effects of cutting parameters on the tilt angle of ICTTs were explored. An error compensation procedure was designed and a group of groove cutting experiments was conducted to identify and compensate the spindle inclination error. The theoretical and experimental results show that the proposed method can compensate for the spindle inclination error effectively and accurately.     

三坐标数控机床误差补偿技术研究

分析了当前国内外误差补偿技术的研究现状，针对该技术仍存在三个主要问题，以多体系统理论为基础，建立了各种类型三坐标数控机床的运动模型，对数控机床进行误差补偿，通过对原始数控指令进行误差补偿处理，得到修正后的数控指令，实现对工件的精密加工。