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.     

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.     

Modeling of spindle-bearing and machine tool systems for virtual simulation of milling operations

This paper presents a general, integrated model of the spindle bearing and machine tool system, consisting of a rotating shaft, tool holder, angular contact ball bearings, housing, and the machine tool mounting. The model allows virtual cutting of a work material with the numerical model of the spindle during the design stage. The proposed model predicts bearing stiffness, mode shapes, frequency response function (FRF), static and dynamic deflections along the cutter and spindle shaft, as well as contact forces on the bearings with simulated cutting forces before physically building and testing the spindles. The proposed models are verified experimentally by conducting comprehensive tests on an instrumented-industrial spindle. The study shows that the accuracy of predicting the performance of the spindles require integrated modeling of all spindle elements and mounting on the machine tool. The operating conditions of the spindle, such as bearing preload, spindle speeds, cutting conditions and work material properties affect the frequency and amplitude of vibrations during machining.     

Characterizations and models for the thermal growth of a motorized high speed spindle

In this paper, the characterizing and modeling of the thermal growth of a motorized high speed spindle is reported. A motorized high speed spindle has more complicated dynamic, non-stationary and speed-dependent thermal characteristics than conventional spindles. The centrifugal force and thermal expansion occurring on the bearings and motor rotor change the thermal characteristics of the built-in motor, bearings and assembly joints. It was found that conventional static models using regression analysis and artificial neural network failed to give satisfactory model accuracy and robustness. An auto-regression dynamic thermal error model, that considers the temperature history and spindle-speed information, has been proposed and proved to improve the model accuracy. However, it was found that temperature-based thermal error models, that correlated thermal displacement of the rotating cutting tool to the temperature measurements on the spindle housing, were not robust. Many nonlinear and time-varying thermal sources, such as coolant jacket, motor air gap, motion joints and assembly interfaces influence thermal displacement. The relationship between temperature measurements and thermal displacements is highly nonlinear, time-varying and non-stationary. A new thermal model which correlates the spindle thermal growth to thermal displacements measured at some locations of the rotating spindle shaft has been proposed. It was found that the displacement-based thermal error model has much better accuracy and robustness than the temperature-based model.     

Virtual Design and Optimization of Machine Tool Spindles

An integrated digital model of spindle, tool holder, tool and cutting process is presented. The spindle is modeled using an in-house developed Finite Element system. The preload on the bearings and the influence of gyroscopic and centrifugal forces from all rotating parts due to speed are considered. The bearing stiffness, mode shapes, Frequency Response Function at any point on the spindle can be predicted. The static and dynamic deflections along the spindle shaft as well as contact forces on the bearings can be predicted with simulated cutting forces before physically building and testing the spindles. The spacing of the bearings are optimized to achieve either maximum dynamics stiffness or maximum chatter free depth of cut at the desired speed region for a given cutter geometry and work-piece material. It is possible to add constraints to model mounting of the spindle on the machine tool, as well as defining local springs and damping elements at any nodal point on the spindle. The model is verified experimentally.     

Cutting Force Estimation by Measuring Spindle Displacement in Milling Process

A cylindrical capacitive displacement sensor (CCDS) was developed and applied for monitoring end milling processes. Dynamic characteristics of a spindle-assembly were measured using the CCDS and a designed magnetic exciter. The technique to extract the spindle displacement component caused only by cutting from the measured signals using the CCDS was proposed in the paper. For the quantitative estimation of dynamic cutting forces from the measured signals, a mechanistic model considering tool deflection, which is derived from the dynamics of the spindle tool system, was proposed.     

Dynamic stiffness enhancement of direct-driven machine tools using sliding mode control with disturbance recovery

This paper presents a disturbance adaptive discrete sliding mode controller for feed drives equipped with linear motors. The control law is expressed as a function of friction and cutting force disturbances which are estimated from the motor force and control states. The accurate prediction of disturbance forces is used to actively compensate low frequency machine tool structural modes which are within the bandwidth of the controller. The proposed control system is experimentally demonstrated on a high performance linear drive, which exhibited high bandwidth and significant increase in dynamic stiffness compared to classical cascaded control methods.     

Estimating cutting force from rotating and stationary feed motor currents on a milling machine

The feed motor current of a machine tool contains substantial information about the machining state. The current has been used as a measure of cutting forces in much previous research; however, this indirect measurement of the cutting forces was feasible only in a low frequency range up to about 60 Hz when milling machining. In this paper, the bandwidth of the current sensor was expanded to 130 Hz. The unusual current behavior between 45 and 60 Hz was examined and analyzed. It is necessary to estimate the cross-feed directional cutting force that is normal to a machined surface, since it directly affects the error of that surface. However, because of the undesired behavior of the stationary motor current, difficulties are encountered when using it to estimate the cutting state. An empirical approach was used to resolve this problem. As a result, we show that the current is related to the infinitesimal rotations of the motor, and it is this that causes the undesired behavior of the current. Subsequently, a relationship between the current of the stationary feed motor and the cutting force normal to machined surface was identified with an error of less than 20%.     

Experimental studies of cutting force variation in face milling

The purpose of this paper is to present a developed cutting force model for multi-toothed cutting processes, including a complete set of parameters influencing the cutting force variation that has been shown to occur in face milling, and to analyse to what extent these parameters influence the total cutting force variation for a selected tool geometry. The scope is to model and analyse the cutting forces for each individual tooth on the tool, to be able to draw conclusions about how the cutting action for an individual tooth is affected by its neighbours.A previously developed cutting force model for multi-toothed cutting processes is supplemented with three new parameters; eccentricity of the spindle, continuous cutting edge deterioration and load inflicted tool deflection influencing the cutting force variation. A previously developed milling force sensor is used to experimentally analyse the cutting force variation, and to give input to the cutting force simulation performed with the developed cutting force model.The experimental results from the case studied in this paper show that there are mainly three factors influencing the cutting force variation for a tool with new inserts. Radial and axial cutting edge position causes approximately 50% of the force variation for the case studied in this paper. Approximately 40% arises from eccentricity and the remaining 10% is the result of spindle deflection during machining. The experimental results presented in this paper show a new type of cutting force diagrams where the force variation for each individual tooth when two cutting edges are engaged in the workpiece at the same time. The wear studies performed shows a redistribution of the individual main cutting forces dependent on the wear propagation for each tooth.     

High frequency bandwidth measurements of micro cutting forces

The miniaturization of machine components is perceived by many as a core requirement for the future technological development of a broad spectrum of products. One of the challenges in micro engineering is the development of economical micro systems that are flexible, functional and made of appropriate engineering materials. The mechanical removal of materials using miniature tools, known as a micro machining process, has unique advantages in creating 3D components using a variety of engineering materials, when compared with photolithographic processes. Since the diameter of miniature tools is very small, excessive forces and vibrations will significantly affect the overall part and tool quality. In order to improve the part and tool quality, accurate measurement of micro cutting forces is imperative. In this paper, we focus on the development of an ultra precision micro milling system and the measurement of micro cutting forces using a three-axis miniature force sensor and accelerometers. Since the inherent dynamics of the workpiece and overall machine tool affects the frequency bandwidth, we employ the Kalman filter approach to fuse the sensor signals and compensate for unwanted dynamics, in order to increase the bandwidth of the force measurement system. Based on accurate cutting force measurement, we can come up with the optimal process parameters to maintain desired tolerances and also monitor the process to prevent failures.     

Measurement of milling tool vibrations during cutting using laser vibrometry

Spindle and tool vibration measurements are of great importance in both the development and monitoring of high-speed milling. Measurements of cutting forces and vibrations on the stationary spindle head is the most used technique today. But since the milling results depend on the relative movement between the workpiece and the tool, it is desirable to measure on the rotating tool as close to the cutters as possible. In this paper the use of laser vibrometry (LDV) for milling tool vibration measurements during cutting is demonstrated. However, laser vibrometry measurements on rotating surfaces are not in general straight forward. Crosstalk between vibration velocity components and harmonic speckle noise generated from the repeating revolution of the surface topography are problems that must be considered. In order to overcome the mentioned issues, a cylindrical casing with a highly optically smooth surface was manufactured and mounted on the tool to be measured. The spindle vibrations, radial tool misalignment, and out-of-roundness of the measured surface were filtered out from the signal; hence, the vibrations of the cutting tool were resolved. Simultaneous measurements of cutting forces and spindle head vibrations were performed and comparisons between the signals were conducted. The results showed that vibration velocities or displacements of the tool can be obtained with high temporal resolution during cutting load and therefore the approach is proven to be feasible for analysing high-frequency milling tool vibrations.     

In-process surface roughness prediction using displacement signals from spindle motion

A method to predict surface roughness in real time was proposed and its effectiveness was proved through experiment in this paper. To implement the proposed method in machining process, a sensor system to measure relative displacement caused by the cutting operation was developed. In this research, roughness of machined surface was assumed to be generated by the relative motion between tool and workpiece and the geometric factors of a tool. The relative motion caused by the machining process could be measured in process using a cylindrical capacitive displacement sensor (CCDS). The CCDS was installed at the quill of a spindle and the sensing was not disturbed by the cutting. The workpiece was NAK80 and TiAlN coated carbide end mills were used in the test. Model to predict surface roughness was developed. A simple linear regression model was developed to predict surface roughness using the measured signals of relative motion. Close relation between machined surface roughness and roughness predicted using the measured signals was verified with similarity of about 95%.     

A fast tool servo design for precision turning of shafts on conventional CNC lathes

A technique for precision turning of shafts on conventional CNC turning centers is presented. The shaft is semi-turned on a conventional CNC lathe. The precision finish turning operation is delivered by a piezoelectric based fast tool servo which is mounted on the same CNC lathe's turret. The precision tool tip motion is delivered by a proposed sliding mode controller which is robust to changes in the cutting process and hysteresis in the piezo actuator. Sliding mode controller is also quick to compensate the cutting force disturbances, and keeps the tool tip at the desired location within the displacement measurement sensor resolution (±0.1 μm). The fast tool servo system is packaged in a PC, and its effectiveness is demonstrated on a bearing location turning.     

An Integrated Force Sensor Solution for Process Monitoring of Drilling Operations

Two piezo electric force sensor rings were developed and integrated into a direct driven motor spindle for online process monitoring of machining processes. Experimental results are presented which demonstrate the performance of the integrated force sensor during drilling operations. Performance comparisons are made between the integrated force sensors and traditional monitoring sensors such as motor power and acoustic emission. The non cutting influences such as spindle dynamic loading contained in the integrated sensor signals are identified. The potential application of the integrated force sensors for process monitoring encompassing tool condition monitoring, spindle condition monitoring and collision detection is demonstrated.     

Cutting force model for multi-toothed cutting processes and force measuring equipment for face milling

This article presents a mechanical cutting force model for multi-tooth cutting processes, where initial position errors in radial and axial direction, eccentricity and edge wear are taken into account. The cutting forces are presented for each individual cutting edge, and in a system of coordinates where one axis is parallel to the cutting speed vector at any instant. The process parameter cutting resistance, C_r is derived from the measured main cutting force F_M. C_r should be regarded as a parameter since it is always increasing with decreasing values of theoretical chip thickness h₁. A new way of measuring cutting forces in multi-tooth cutting processes is also presented. Eight cutting force components are measured on the tool close to each of the four cutting edges. The aroused signals are filtered, amplified, A/D-converted and put together in a serial stream for transmission through a hollow spindle via a fibre optic cable. The signals are sent from the rotating spindle to the frame of the machine over an air gap with Light Emitting Diodes. They are then demultiplexed, D/A-converted, and stored in a PC-based eight channel oscilloscope. With this measurement equipment it is possible to directly measure the cutting forces acting on each individual cutting edge.     

Acceleration based indirect force measurement in metal cutting processes

A milling cutter instrumented with a three-component accelerometer is investigated as a sensor of dynamic cutting forces. Two major causes of measurement errors are considered. These causes are: (1) the flexible mode vibrations, and (2) inertial and viscous forces associated with the “rigid body” motion of the spindle. A self-tuning filter consisting of two subsystems is applied to attenuate these errors. The first subsystem converts accelerations from the rotating spindle into stationary coordinates. It also analyses the corrupted signal and calculates an optimal filter structure and the settings for the actual operating conditions. This information is utilized by the second subsystem, a digitally programmable filter, which performs signals correction in real time. Two examples are presented to illustrate performance of the proposed “natural” sensor. In the first example, a periodical force applied from an exciter is reconstructed from the accelerations measured during spindle rotation. The second example deals with estimation of a force impulse generated by means of an impact hammer.     

Dynamic response analysis in end milling using pre-twisted beam finite elements

This paper develops an analytical model for estimating the dynamic responses in end milling, i.e. dynamic milling cutter deflections and cutting forces, by using the finite-element method along with an adequate end milling-cutting force model. The whole cutting system includes the spindle, the bearings and the cutter. The spindle is modelled structurally with the Timoshenko-beam element, the milling cutter with the pre-twisted Timoshenko-beam element due to its special geometry, and the bearings with lumped springs and dampers. Because the damping matrix in the resulting finite-element equation of motion for the whole cutting system is not one of proportional damping due to the presence of bearing damping, the state-vector approach and the convolution integral is used to find the solution of the equation of motion. To assure the accuracy of prediction of the dynamic response, the associated cutting force model should be sufficiently precise. Since the dynamic cutting force is proportional to the chip thickness, a quite accurate alogorithm for the calculation of the variation of the chip thickness due to geometry, run-out and spindle-tool viration is developed. A number of dynamic cutting forces and tool deflections obtained from the present model for various cutting conditions are compared with the experimental and analytical results available in the literature, good agreement being demonstrated for these comparisons. The present model is useful, therefore, for the prediction of end milling instability. Also, the tool deflections obtained using the pre-twisted beam element are found to be smaller than those obtained using the straight beam element without pre-twist angle. Hence neglecting the pre-twist angle in the structural model of the milling cutter may overestimate the tool deflections.     

A cutting force model for face milling operations

A procedure for the simulation of the static and dynamic cutting forces in face milling is described. For the static force model, the initial position errors of the inserts and the eccentricity of the spindle are taken into consideration as the major factors affecting the variation of the chip cross-section. The structural dynamics model for the multi-tooth oblique cutting operation is assumed as a multi-degrees of freedom spatial system. From the relative displacement of this system, based on the double modulation principle, the dynamic cutting forces were derived and simulated. The simulated forces were subsequently compared to measured forces in the time and frequency domains.     

Real time monitoring and diagnosis system development in turning through measuring a roundness error based on three-point method

A real time monitoring and diagnosis system to measure spindle center displacement (roundness error) during turning operation is introduced in this paper. The system was developed based on the three-point method. The error generated during cutting process was monitored and diagnosed by using a system equipped with a designed DSP (Digital Signal Processor) board and FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) algorithm. The system could estimate cutting force and predict other cutting characteristics such as chattering and tool wear. Using the spindle center fluctuation, i.e. a roundness error movement from the center, the relationship between the cutting force and the roundness error could also be investigated. The roundness error that eliminated geometric shape error and eccentric error from the measured signals in the frequency domain proved to be a dominating factor in determining cutting characteristics.     

A new method of cutting force measurement based on command voltages of active electro-magnetic bearings

In this paper, a new indirect method of measuring dynamic cutting forces is proposed. Milling tests have been performed on a five-axis machine, Gambin 120CR, fitted out with an electro-spindle with magnetic bearings developed by the company S2M, and named SMB30. These bearings are not affected by friction and wear. An experimental approach has been developed to determine the cutting forces as a function of the measured command voltages of the milling spindle’s magnetic bearings. The spindle is treated as a “black box”, where the transfer functions linking the unknown cutting force with command voltages are established experimentally. The cutting forces calculated from the command voltages of magnetic bearings are in good agreement with the ones measured with a Kistler four-component dynamometer. This indirect method of cutting force determination provides a useful way to estimate tool wear and monitor product quality in high-speed milling on-line.