Programming spindle speed variation for machine tool chatter suppression

This paper presents a novel method for programming spindle speed variation for machine tool chatter suppression. This method is based on varying the spindle speed for minimum energy input by the cutting process. The work done by the cutting force during sinusoidal spindle speed variation S³V is solved numerically over a wide range of spindle speeds to study the effect of S³V on stable and unstable systems and to generate charts by which the optimum S³V amplitude ratio can be selected. For on-line application, a simple criterion for computing the optimal S³V amplitude ratio is presented. Also, a heuristic criterion for selecting the frequency of the forcing speed signal is developed so that the resulting signal ensures fast stabilization of the machining process. The proposed criteria are suitable for on-line chatter suppression, since they only require knowledge of the chatter frequency and spindle speed. The effectiveness of the developed S³V programming method is verified experimentally.     

High frequency bandwidth cutting force measurement in milling using capacitance displacement sensors

This article presents a method of measuring cutting forces from the displacements of rotating spindle shafts. A capacitance displacement sensor is integrated into the spindle and measures static and dynamic variations of the gap between the sensor head and the rotating spindle shaft under cutting load. To calibrate the sensing system, the tool is loaded statically while the deflection of the tool is measured with the capacitance probe. With this calibration, the displacement sensor can be used as an indirect force sensor. However, the measurement bandwidth is limited by the natural modes of the spindle structure. If cutting force frequency contents are within the range of the natural modes of the spindle structure or higher, the measurements are distorted due to the dynamic characteristics of the spindle system. In order to increase the bandwidth of the indirect force sensor by compensating for the spindle dynamics, the design of a Kalman filter scheme, which is based on the frequency response function (FRF) of the displacement sensor system to the cutting force, is presented in this paper. With the suggested sensing and signal processing method, the frequency bandwidth of the sensor system is increased significantly, from 350 to approximately 1000 Hz. The proposed indirect force sensor system is tested experimentally by conducting cutting tests up to 12,000 rpm with a five-fluted end mill. Besides cutting forces, the measured displacements can also be affected by factors such as roundness errors, unbalance at different speeds, or dilatation of the spindle shaft due to temperature variations. Methods to compensate for these disturbing effects are also described in the paper.     

An optical fibre sensor based cutting force measuring device

With a view to providing a way of obtaining cutting force signals which possess good adaptability to workshop conditions, a cutting force measuring device based on a specially treated standard tool shank and an optical fibre sensor is developed. The tool shank is treated in such a way that during a cutting process a displacement proportional to cutting force F_z will occur at its rear part. The displacement is then detected as a measure of the cutting force by the optical fibre sensor which is mounted on the tool post. With this device no undue extra space is required for the installation and the convenience of the tool changing operation is unaffected. Besides, as the measurement is done at the rear of the tool shank, disturbances from chip and coolant may be avoided. A calibration test and real cutting tests of the device are carried out. The results show that the device possesses satisfactory static and dynamic performances and the spectrum feature of its output signal is sensitive to tool condition.     

环肋圆柱壳的肋骨环焊缝焊接拘束度计算方法

针对环肋圆柱壳圈的圆柱壳体与环肋肋骨角焊缝的焊接拘束度的计算问题,采用薄壳理论,通过确定圆柱壳圈在承受均匀环向分布力时的径向位移函数,从而确定角焊缝拘束度计算的解析解.结果表明,决定拘束度的尺寸因素是壳圈厚度h与壳圈半径R的比值,并且拘束度与该比值的1.5次方成正比.壳圈长度对拘束度有影响,度量壳圈长度的尺寸标志量是壳圈厚度和半径的几何平均值即(Rh)^0.5.随着壳圈长度的增大,拘束度增大,但存在极限值.即壳圈长度L>5(Rh)^0.5时,可按长壳圈计算拘束度;当壳圈长度L<2(Rh)^0.5时,壳圈的拘束度与壳圈的长度成正比.     

Identification of common sensory features for the control of CNC milling operations under varying cutting conditions

The main focus of this study is to identify the most influential and common sensory features for the process quality characteristics in CNC milling operations—dimensional accuracy (bore size tolerance) and surface roughness—using three different material types (6061-T6 aluminum, 7075-T6 aluminum, and ANSI-4140 steel). The materials were machined on a vertical CNC mill, retrofitted with multiple sensors and data acquisition systems, to investigate the effects of variations in material types and machining parameters. The sensor data include cutting force measurements, spindle quill vibration, and acoustic emission, each of which further divided into measurable components, such as x, y, and z components in cutting force, x and y spindle quill vibration, DC, AC, and Count Rate for acoustic emission signals. Those components were filtered and analyzed to determine the sensory features that best correlate with process quality characteristics. Tool wear rate and machining characteristics appeared differently, depending on the material types, yet some components of the sensory data were found to be significant with relation to the variations in bore size and surface roughness for all three types of materials. This suggests that even under the varying cutting conditions involving different materials, the identified sensory features can be used for the reliable and accurate control of milling operations.     

A new on-line spindle speed regulation strategy for chatter control

A new on-line control method to suppress regenerative chatter vibration during the machining process by regulating spindle speed is proposed. The dynamic cutting force signal collected from a dynamometer is passed through a low pass filter, and then digitized. The fast Fourier transform is carried out to obtain the corresponding power spectrum. The chatter frequency is identified when the intensity at a certain frequency other than the spindle speed and tooth passing frequency exceeds a critical value. Based on the identified chatter frequency, a new spindle speed is computed by applying the principle of keeping the phase between the present and previous undulations to 90°. The new speed command is executed while the cutting proceeds. It is found from simulation that the chatter vibration can be suppressed by this approach in the shortest time. This method is also verified by experiments through actual cutting of various materials by a computer numerically controlled milling machine. The main feature of this approach is that the feed of the machine tool does not need to be halted during the change of spindle speed. Hence, tool wear can be reduced. Furthermore, no system identification of the machine tool structure is needed, and therefore it has great potential in actual applications.     

Dynamic Compensation of Spindle-Integrated Force Sensors

This paper presents a dynamically compensated Spindle-Integrated Force Sensor system to measure cutting forces. Piezo-electric force sensors are integrated into the stationary spindle housing to measure cutting forces in three directions. The transfer function of the spindle structure between the cutting forces acting on the tool tip and the measured forces at the spindle housing are identified. Using the cutting force signals measured at the spindle housing, a Kalman filter is designed to filter the influence of structural modes on the force measurements. The frequency bandwidth of the force measurement system is significantly increased with the proposed sensor and the signal processing method. Milling experiments with tooth passing frequencies up to 1000 Hz are presented with effective removal of cutting force distortions caused by three structural modes of the spindle.     

Characterization of Microplasma Sprayed Hydroxyapatite Coating

Microplasma sprayed (MIPS) HAP coatings on SS316L substrates were characterized by x-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy and image analysis. The coating showed a high degree of crystallinity ~92%, a high porosity level of 20 vol.% and a moderate bonding strength of about 13 MPa. The displacement controlled three-point bend tests and associated results of optical microscopy indicated that crack deflection, crack branching, and also local crack bridging occurred during crack propagation in the coating. The nano-hardness (H) and Young’s modulus (E) of the MIPS-HAP coatings as measured by nanoindentation technique were about 6 and 92 GPa, respectively. The fracture toughness (K _ic) of the coating was ~0.6 MPa·m^0.5. From the nano-scratch experiments, the critical normal load at which localized microcracking led to delamination was measured to be ~400 mN.     

Measurement of slide error of an ultra-precision diamond turning machine by using a rotating cylinder workpiece

Two measurement methods of using a rotating cylinder workpiece, which are referred to as the one-probe method and the two-probe method, respectively, are proposed for measurement of the horizontal error motion (X-directional error motion) of the Z-slide of an ultra-precision diamond turning machine. In the one-probe method, a displacement probe mounted on the opposite position of the turned (self-cut) cylinder workpiece with respect to the cutting tool is moved by the Z-slide to scan the workpiece being rotated by the spindle with its axis of rotation along the Z-axis. The Z-slide error can be obtained by an averaged output of the probe over one rotation without the influence of the spindle error and the surface form error of the cylinder. In the two-probe method, in addition to the displacement probe used in the one-probe method, another displacement probe is mounted at the position of the cutting tool. The rotating cylinder is scanned along the Z-direction by the two displacement probes simultaneously and the Z-slide error can be accurately measured by using the averaged output of the two probes over one rotation. Both the methods can measure not only the out-of-straightness component of the slide error but also the out-of-parallelism of the Z-slide axis with respect to the spindle axis. Experiments are carried out to verify the feasibility of the proposed methods.     

The statistical modeling of surface roughness in high-speed flat end milling

Surface roughness is one of the most important requirements in machining process. The surface roughness value is a result of the tool wear. When tool wear increase, the surface roughness also increases. The determination of the sufficient cutting parameters is a very important process obtained by means of both minimum surface roughness values and long tool life. The statistical models were developed to predict the surface roughness.This paper presents the development of a statistical model for surface roughness estimation in a high-speed flat end milling process under wet cutting conditions, using machining variables such as spindle speed, feed rate, depth of cut, and step over. First- and second-order models were developed using experimental results of a rotatable central composite design, and assessed by means of various statistical tests. The highest coefficient of correlation (R_adj²) (88%) was obtained with a 10-parameter second-order model. Meanwhile, a time trend was observed in residual values between model predictions and experimental data, reflecting the probable effect of the tool wear on surface roughness. Thus, in order to enhance the estimation capability of the model, another independent variable was included into the model to account for the effect of the tool wear, and the total operating time of the tool was selected as the most suitable variable for this purpose. By inserting this new variable as a linear term into the model, R_adj² was increased to 94% and a good fit was observed between the model predictions and supplementary experimental data.In this study, it was observed that, the order of significance of the main variables is as X₅>X₃>X₄>X₁>X₂ (total machining time, depth of cut, step over, spindle speed and feed rate, respectively).     

Analysis of thermal errors in a high-speed micro-milling spindle

Thermally induced errors account for the majority of fabrication accuracy loss in an uncompensated machine tool. This issue is particularly relevant in the micro-machining arena due to the comparable size of thermal errors and the characteristic dimensions of the parts under fabrication. A spindle of a micro-milling machine tool is one of the main sources of thermal errors. Other sources of thermal errors include drive elements like linear motors and bearings, the machining process itself and external thermal influences such as variation in ambient temperature. The basic strategy for alleviating the magnitude of these thermal errors can be achieved by thermal desensitization, control and compensation within the machine tool.This paper describes a spindle growth compensation scheme that aims towards reducing its thermally-induced machining errors. The implementation of this scheme is simple in nature and it can be easily and quickly executed in an industrial environment with minimal investment of manpower and component modifications.Initially a finite element analysis (FEA) is conducted on the spindle assembly. This FEA correlates the temperature rise, due to heating from the spindle bearings and the motor, to the resulting structural deformation. Additionally, the structural deformation of the spindle along with temperature change at its various critical points is experimentally obtained by a system of thermocouples and capacitance gages.The experimental values of the temperature changes and the structural deformation of the spindle qualitatively agree well with the results obtained by FEA. Consequently, a thermal displacement model of the high-speed micro-milling spindle is formulated from the previously obtained experimental results that effectively predict the spindle displacement under varying spindle speeds. The implementation of this model in the machine tool under investigation is expected to reduce its thermally induced spindle displacement by 80%, from 6 microns to less than 1 micron in a randomly generated test with varying spindle speeds.     

Compensation of thermo-dependent machine tool deformations due to spindle load: investigation of the optimal transfer function in consideration of rough machining

The thermal behavior of a machine tool is an important indicator for the grade of production accuracy and indirectly for the market success. The load-dependent temperature distribution and the resulting deformation of the machine tool are influenced by a variety of design and thermo-technical parameters. The main spindle of a machine tool is, without any doubt, the major heat source within the machine structure. The object of the scientific investigation presented in this article is the development of an approach to robust compensation of thermo-dependent machine tool deformations due to spindle load in consideration of rough machining. The focus of the work concentrates on the identification of the model with the highest compensation performance. The underlying concept for the compensation of thermo-dependent machine tool deformations is the indirect approach by using the speed and the effective power of the main spindle for the calculation of the Tool Center Point (TCP) displacement. The presented modeling approach requires the knowledge of the TCP displacement in X-, Y- and Z-direction depending on the speed and the effective power of the main spindle. As a tool for modeling the thermo-dependent behavior of a milling machine, a load test rig for repeatable, defined long-term loading of the main spindle has been developed. It simulates the cutting force depending on the spindle speed and the torque and applies load to the main spindle. The spindle speed and the spindle effective power can be taken directly from the numerical control of the machine tool. An important advantage of the presented compensation method is the fact that it does not require any external sensors. The displacement of the TCP has to be measured, but only during modeling. The relationship between the speed/power of the main spindle as a cause and the displacement of the TCP in X-, Y- and Z-direction as an effect can be determined by a transfer function. This paper compares the compensation results depending on the transfer function and identifies the model with the best compensation performance. The validation of the compensation method is executed by using the example of two different speed and power spectra of the main spindle.     

The development of a high-speed spindle measurement system using a laser diode and a quadrants sensor

Reducing the manufacturing time is the trend of precision manufacturing, and the precision of a work-piece is very important for manufacturing industry. High-speed cutting is becoming more widely used and the high-speed spindle is a very important element, whose precision may affect the overall performance of high-speed cutting. Most of the studies on high-speed cutting are focused on the cutting force, the vibration of the spindle and the effects of the spindle's thermal expansion; however, the measurement of the high-speed spindle continues to use the conventional spindle measurement method.As with the measurement of the high-speed spindle, more strict demands are set on the dynamic balance of cutting tools and the bandwidth of the measurement systems when compared with common spindles. The capacitance displacement sensor has been employed for the spindle error test. The precision of the measurement system is limited by the reference (such as a master ball or a master cylinder). Also the capacitance sensor and the reference must be grounded together. This paper presents a simple spindle measurement system using a laser diode and a quadrants sensor, with accuracy up to 1 μm, within 300,000 rpm for various spindles. The system does not need any reference and it is easy to set up. This system can be applied to measure the spindle errors, the spindle speed and the spindle indexing.     

Development of a new rotary ultrasonic spindle for precision ultrasonically assisted grinding

In our previous work, a new method for inducing a machine spindle to ultrasonically vibrate was proposed in which the axial ultrasonic vibration is excited by a fluctuating electromagnetic force applied to the spindle. The validity of this method was also confirmed experimentally. In this paper, focusing on the development of a new rotary ultrasonic spindle based on this new method, an actual ultrasonic spindle unit was designed and constructed in accordance with the previous work. The unit consists of an ultrasonic spindle, two rotary bearings and their housings for holding the spindle, eight electromagnets and their supporters for the generation of a fluctuating electromagnetic force, and a base plate. Its performance was also investigated experimentally for different exciting conditions. The results showed that an ultrasonic vibration with a sub-μm order amplitude is generated on the produced spindle and that the applied electromagnetic force affects the spindle performance significantly.     

High-speed rotary cutting of difficult-to-cut materials on multitasking lathe

This paper aims to realize the high-speed rotary dry cutting of an Inconel 718 at 500 m/min on a multitasking lathe which has an additional milling spindle with an X/Y/Z-axis and inclination control. A series of experiments were conducted and are discussed with respect to the tool face temperature analysis by FEM. It was verified that it is necessary to select an optimum inclination angle, tool rotation speed and tool diameter so as to enable the main cutting force direction to align with the highest rigidity direction of an applied rotary tool. Under preferable cutting conditions, the average tool rake face temperature measured by a thermograph camera was about 300 °C even at a high cutting speed of 500 m/min under dry cutting conditions, and the tool wear decreased dramatically compared with the conventional tools.     

Modelling the correlation between cutting and process parameters in high-speed machining of Inconel 718 alloy using an artificial neural network

An artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed for the analysis and prediction of the relationship between cutting and process parameters during high-speed turning of nickel-based, Inconel 718, alloy. The input parameters of the ANN model are the cutting parameters: speed, feed rate, depth of cut, cutting time, and coolant pressure. The output parameters of the model are seven process parameters measured during the machining trials, namely tangential force (cutting force, F_z), axial force (feed force, F_x), spindle motor power consumption, machined surface roughness, average flank wear (VB), maximum flank wear (VB_max) and nose wear (VC). The model consists of a three-layered feedforward backpropagation neural network. The network is trained with pairs of inputs/outputs datasets generated when machining Inconel 718 alloy with triple (TiCN/Al₂O₃/TiN) PVD-coated carbide (K 10) inserts with ISO designation CNMG 120412. A very good performance of the neural network, in terms of agreement with experimental data, was achieved. The model can be used for the analysis and prediction of the complex relationship between cutting conditions and the process parameters in metal-cutting operations and for the optimisation of the cutting process for efficient and economic production.     

On the dynamics of ball end milling: modeling of cutting forces and stability analysis

This paper presents a dynamic force model and a stability analysis for ball end milling. The concept of the equivalent orthogonal cutting conditions, applied to modeling of the mechanics of ball end milling, is extended to include the dynamics of cutting forces. The tool is divided into very thin slices and the cutting force applied to each slice is calculated and summed for all the teeth engaged. To calculate the instantaneous chip thickness of each tooth slice, the method of regenerative chip load calculation which accounts for the effects of both the surface undulations and the instantaneous deflection is used. To include the effect of the interference of the flank face of the tool with the finished surface of the work, the plowing force is also considered in the developed model. Experimental cutting forces are obtained using a five-axis milling machine with a rotary dynamometer. The developed dynamic model is capable of generating force and torque patterns with very good agreement with the experimental data. Stability of the ball end milling in the semi-finishing operation of die cavities is also studied in this paper. The tangential and radial forces predicted by the method of equivalent orthogonal condition are fitted by the equations F_t = K_t(Z)bh_av and F_r = K_r(Z)F_t, where b is the depth of cut and h_av is the average chip thickness along the cutting edge and Z is the tool axis coordinate. The polynomial functions K_t(Z) and K_r(Z) are the cutting force constants. The interdependency of the axial and radial depths of cut in ball end milling results in an iterative solution of the characteristic equation for the critical width of cut and spindle speed. In addition, due to different cutting characteristics of the cutting edge at different heights of the ball nose, stability lobes are represented by surfaces. Comparison of the time domain simulation for the shoulder removal process in die cavity machining with the analytical predictions shows that the proposed method is capable of accurate prediction of the stability lobes.     

A drop-weight high-speed tensile testing instrument

A drop-weight high-speed tensile testing instrument was developed, in which the acting force and the specimen elongation can be obtained by measuring the displacement of the drop-weight by means of an opto-electronic transducer. The system was used to obtain the flow curves of AA5754 at strain rates up to 2,200 s⁻¹. The flow curves were verified with the help of finite element calculations by comparing the displacement and full-field strain measurement results. The developed instrument provides satisfying flow curves, in addition to being simple and cheap.     

Performance and work capacity of a polypyrrole conducting polymer linear actuator

This paper reports a performance analysis of a conducting polymer film actuator made of polypyrrole (PPy). Electrochemomechanical characterizations of the active displacement and the developed force of a PPy free-standing film at different loading conditions are performed. Two driving signals are used: the former, a cyclic voltammetry at 1 mV/s between ± 1 V, is used to carry out an accurate on-line analysis of the film displacement; the latter, a current square wave between 0.02 and 0.1 Hz, is helpful for evaluating the effectiveness of the actuator in terms both of actuation strain and of developed force. The experimental results indicate that 1 % displacement, 3 MPa force and working density of 73 kJ/m³ are achievable goals for a conducting polymer linear actuator, which are interesting results if compared with the limiting specifications of skeletal muscle. Additionally, two different approaches to the electrochemomechanical modeling of the conducting polymerfluid electrolyte system are illustrated, together with a discussion about foreseen improvements in the implementation of actuating structures.     

Improvement of a delayed velocity reference control (DVRC) for machining operations

This paper deals with a non-time-based controller for machining operations, suitable to control the interaction force between the tool and the workpiece.In the traditional approach usually the tool feed velocity (on which the force depends) is predetermined: it is chosen on the basis of some important parameters, such as tool dimensions, shape and material, the depth of cut, the workpiece material, etc. In this traditional approach, the reference function is calculated off-line, and during the task execution, at each instant, the control module is required to track the input reference; the drawback of this approach is that the system is not able to modify its velocity if unpredictable events occur or if side conditions change; this could produce high forces that could damage the tool or the workpiece.This paper presents a non-time-based controller for machining operations. Basically, in this control, the desired input reference is calculated on-line according to the measured force signal in such a way to improve the interaction. The controller allows to set the optimum interaction force F_max. In addition to this the same control is able to move the tool, during free motion paths, with a constant customizable velocity V_max, thus implementing a velocity control. As a third feature, it is possible to set the maximum allowed acceleration A_max of the end effector during the motion. This control scheme, called delayed velocity reference control (DVRC) belongs to the category of non-time-based controllers, since the reference signal is not directly related to time.The effectiveness of the controller has been proven by means of its implementation on a three-axes CNC center for EPS foam cutting.