151 research outputs found

    The analysis of tool life and wear mechanisms in spindle speed variation machining

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    Regenerative chatter vibrations generally limit the achievable material removal rate in machining. The diffusion of spindle speed variation (SSV) as a chatter suppression strategy is mainly restricted to academy and research centers. A lack of knowledge concerning the effects of non-stationary machining is still limiting its use in real shop floors. This research is focused on the effects of spindle speed variation technique on tool duration and on wear mechanisms. No previous researches have been performed on this specific topic. Tool wear tests in turning were carried out following a factorial design: cutting speed and cutting speed modulation were the investigated factors. The carbide life was the observed process response. A statistical approach was used to analyze the effects of the factors on the tool life. Moreover, the analysis was extended to the wear mechanisms involved during both constant speed machining and SSV. The worn-out carbide surfaces were examined under a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Significant differences were appreciated. It was observed that SSV tends to detach the coatings of the inserts, entailing a mechanism that is quite unusual in wet steel turning and thus fostering the wear of the tool. The performed analysis allowed to deduce that the intensified tool wear (in SSV cutting) is mainly due to thermo-mechanical fatigue

    Alternative experimental methods for machine tool dynamics identification: A review

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    An accurate machine dynamic characterization is essential to properly describe the dynamic response of the machine or predict its cutting stability. However, it has been demonstrated that current conventional dynamic characterization methods are often not reliable enough to be used as valuable input data. For this reason, alternative experimental methods to conventional dynamic characterization methods have been developed to increase the quality of the obtained data. These methods consider additional effects which influence the dynamic behavior of the machine and cannot be captured by standard methods. In this work, a review of the different machine tool dynamic identification methods is done, remarking the advantages and drawbacks of each method.The present work has been partially supported by the EU Horizon 2020 InterQ project (958357/H2020-EU.2.1.5.1.) and the CDTI CERVERA programme MIRAGED project (EXP-00,137,312/CER-20191001)

    An analytical method to select spindle speed variation parameters for chatter suppression in NC machining

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    Regenerative chatter vibrations may result in shortened tool life and poor surface finish, and hence should be avoided in practice. Since the Spindle Speed Variation (SSV) method has been certified as a feasible and effective way, the issue of speed variation parameters selection has yet to be solved. Based on the discussions of energy accumulation process in chatter and in vari-speed cutting, an analytical method was proposed to select spindle speed variation parameters. The variation of the phase delay between the inner and the outer modulations was regarded as an important argument that reflects the energy accumulation process. Two phase delay related coefficients were proposed for analyzing the mean energy accumulation process and regional energy accumulation enhancement. The importance of spindle acceleration for chatter suppression was also explained. The phase delay based analytical method was verified by numerical simulation and turning experiments

    Self-Tuning Algorithm for Tuneable Clamping Table for Chatter Suppression in Blade Recontouring

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    The production and repair of blades for aerospace engines and energy turbines is a complex process due their inherently low stiffness and damping properties. The final recontouring operation is usually performed by milling operations where regenerative chatter is one of the main productivity limiting factors. With the objective of avoiding specific stiffening fixtures for each blade geometry, this paper proposes a semi-active tuneable clamping table (TCT) based on mode tuning for blade machining. The active mode of the device can be externally controlled by means of a rotary spring and eddy current damping modules. Its in-series architecture allows damping to be introduced to the critical mode of the thin-walled part without any direct contact in the machining area and enables a more universal clamping. Its chatter suppression capabilities are maximized by means of a novel self-tuning algorithm that iteratively optimizes the tuning for the measured chatter frequency. The benefits of the iterative algorithm are validated through semidiscretization and initial value time-domain simulations, showing a clear improvement in blade recontouring stability compared to regular broad-bandwidth tuning methods.This project has been funded by the MIRAGED: Posicionamiento Estratégico en Modelos Virtuales y Gemelos Digitales para una Industria 4.0 (CER-20191001), supported by CDTI-Acreditación y Concesión de Ayudas Destinadas a Centros Tecnológicos de Excelencia Cervera; the Hungarian NKFI FK 124361 and the TiMachina project (IDI-201904196) from the International Technological Corporation, and by R+d projects program of the Spanish Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI)

    Active chatter control in high-speed milling processes

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    In present day manufacturing industry, an increasing demand for highprecision products at a high productivity level is seen. High-speed milling is a manufacturing technique which is commonly exploited to produce highprecision parts at a high productivity level for the aeroplane, automotive and mould and dies industry. The performance of a manufacturing process such as high-speed milling, indicated by the material removal rate, is limited by the occurrence of a dynamic instability phenomenon called chatter. The occurrence of chatter results in an inferior workpiece quality due to heavy vibrations of the cutter. Moreover, a high level of noise is produced and the tool wears out rapidly. Although different types of chatter exist, regenerative chatter is recognised as the most prevalent type of chatter. The occurrence of (regenerative) chatter has such a devastating effect on workpiece quality and tool wear that it should be avoidedat all times. The occurrence of chatter can be visualised in so-called stability lobes diagrams (sld). In an sld the chatter stability boundary between a stable cut (i.e. without chatter) and an unstable cut (i.e. with chatter) is visualised in terms of spindle speed and depth of cut. Using the information gathered in a sld, the machinist can select a chatter free operating point. In this thesis two problems are tackled. Firstly, due to e.g. heating of the spindle, tool wear, etc., the sld may vary in time. Consequently, a stable working point that was originally chosen by the machinist may become unstable. This requires a (controlled) adaptation of process parameters such that stability of the milling process is ensured (i.e. chatter is avoided) even under such changing process conditions. Secondly, the ever increasing demand for high-precision products at a high productivity level requires dedicated shaping of the chatter stability boundary. Such shaping of the sld should render working points (in terms of spindle speed and depth of cut) of high productivity feasible, while avoiding chatter. These problems require the design of dedicated control strategies that ensure stable high-speed milling operations with increased performance. In this work, two chatter control strategies are developed that guarantee high-speed chatter-free machining operations. The goal of the two chatter control strategies is, however, different. The first chatter control strategy guarantees chatter-free high-speed milling operations by automatic adaptation of spindle speed and feed (i.e. the feed is not stopped during the spindle speed transition). In this way, the high-speed milling process will remain stable despite changes in the process, e.g. due to heating of the spindle, tool wear, etc. To do so, an accurate and fast chatter detection algorithm is presented which predicts the occurrence of chatter before chatter marks are visible on the workpiece. Once the onset of chatter is detected, the developed controller adapts the spindle speed and feed such that a new chatter-free working point is attained. Experimental results confirm that by using this control strategy chatter-free machining is ensured. It is also shown experimentally that the detection algorithm is able to detect chatter before it is fully developed. Furthermore, the control strategy ensures that chatter is avoided, thereby ensuring a robust machining operation and a high surface quality. The second chatter control strategy is developed to design controllers that guarantee chatter-free cutting operations in an a priori defined range of process parameters (spindle speed and depth of cut) such that a higher productivity can be attained. Current (active) chatter control strategies for the milling process cannot provide such a strong guarantee of a priori stability for a predefined range of working points. The methodology is based on a robust control approach using µ-synthesis, where the most important process parameters (spindle speed and depth of cut) are treated as uncertainties. The proposed methodology will allow the machinist to define a desired working range (in spindle speed and depth of cut) and lift the sld locally in a dedicated fashion. Finally, experiments have been performed to validate the working principle of the active chatter control strategy in practice. Hereto, a milling spindle with an integrated active magnetic bearing is considered. Based on the obtained experimental results, it can be stated that the active chatter control methodology, as presented in this thesis, can indeed be applied to design controllers, which alter the sld such that a pre-defined domain of working points is stabilised. Results from milling tests underline this conclusion. By using the active chatter controller working points with a higher material removal rate become feasible while avoiding chatter. To summarise, the control strategies developed in this thesis, ensure robust chatter-free high-speed milling operations where, by dedicated shaping of the chatter stability boundary, working points with a higher productivity are attained

    DESIGN OF A CUSTOM SOFTWARE APPLICATION TO MONITOR AND COMMUNICATE CNC MACHINING PROCESS INFORMATION TO AID IN CHATTER IDENTIFICATION

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    In any manufacturing environment, it is important to be able to monitor the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining process so that high quality parts can be produced in the least amount of time in order to be profitable. This involves acquiring the proper parameters needed from the machine\u27s controller, which can prove to be difficult with proprietary machine tools that tend to limit access to the internal data collected by the controller. This closed approach to controller design also means that many technological advances that have recently become prevalent in society are not being adopted in the manufacturing industry, preventing the interoperability between hardware and software components and adding to the shortcomings in communicating the necessary machining parameters to machine operators. The project described in this thesis offers a solution to some of the communication, productivity, and part quality problems in the American manufacturing industry by providing a custom software application that integrates MTConnect, an emerging interoperable data communication standard, with proprietary data acquisition tools and custom sensors to monitor and communicate CNC machining process information. The application described in this thesis was designed to aid in the identification of chatter conditions to the machine operator and to other users to take action for chatter suppression and avoidance. Chatter is an undesirable phenomenon that can reduce part quality and increase tool wear. These consequences result in higher costs to replace damaged parts and tools as well as increasing the amount of machine downtime which can reduce a company\u27s overall productivity. Once chatter is detected in the audible frequency range, damage to the workpiece has already occurred. Therefore, an early identification and communication method with the machine tool is warranted to easily monitor the machine in the event of impending dynamic part damage. This application was developed to provide a means to monitor cutting conditions to reduce and prevent chatter in the machining process and to aid in analysis to avoid subsequent unstable operating conditions. Preserving part quality and productivity in manufacturing is also dependent on accurate information provided about the specific parts involved in the machining process. In addition to monitoring the process, this application facilitates the communication of part-specific information by improving the input and tracking of part numbers, and organizes the machining process information in a central location according to the specific part. Improving the part tracking process can aid in the organization of data to analyze the machining process for increased quality in future operations. The application can also be customized for other implementations, which can benefit many different industrial manufacturing facilities as well as academics in performing experimental research. It is important for the manufacturing industry and its partners in academia to be able to bridge the communication gap to increase the knowledge of the machining process and therefore manufacturing productivity and profitability

    ON THE STABILITY OF VARIABLE HELIX MILLING TOOLS

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    One of the main aims of the manufacturing industry has been to maximise the material removal rate of machining processes. However, this goal can be restricted by the appearance of regenerative chatter vibrations. In milling, one approach for regenerative chatter suppression is the implementation of variable-helix cutters. However, these tools can lead to isolated unstable regions in the stability diagram. Currently, variable-helix unstable islands have not been extensively researched in the literature. Therefore, the current thesis focuses on studying and experimentally validating these islands. For the validation, an experimental setup that scaled not only the structural dynamics but also the cutting force coefficients was proposed. Therefore, it was possible to attain larger axial depths of cut while assuming linear dynamics. The variable-helix process stability was modelled using the semi-discretization method and the multi-frequency approach. It was found that the variable helix tools can further stabilise a larger width of cut due to the distributed time delays that are a product of the tool geometry. Subsequently, a numerical study about the impact of structural damping on the variable-helix stability diagram revealed a strong relationship between the damping level and instability islands. The findings were validated by performing trials on the experimental setup, modified with constrained layer damping to recreate the simulated conditions. Additionally, a convergence analysis using the semi-discretization method (SDM) and the multi-frequency approach (MFA) revealed that these islands are sensitive to model convergence aspects. The analysis shows that the MFA provided converged solutions with a steep convergence rate, while the SDM struggled to converge. In this work, it is demonstrated that variable-helix instability islands only emerge at relatively high levels of structural damping and that they are particularly susceptible to model convergence effects. Meanwhile, the model predictions are compared to and validated against detailed experimental data that uses a specially designed configuration to minimise experimental error. To the authors' knowledge, this provides the first experimentally validated study of unstable islands in variable helix milling, while also demonstrating the importance of accurate damping estimates and convergence studies within the stability predictions
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