Circular tests for HSM machine tools: Bore machining application

Today's High-Speed Machining (HSM) machine tool combines productivity and part quality. The difficulty inherent in HSM operations lies in understanding the impact of machine tool behaviour on machining time and part quality. Analysis of some of the relevant ISO standards (230-1998, 10791-1998) and a complementary protocol for better understanding HSM technology are presented in the first part of this paper. These ISO standards are devoted to the procedures implemented in order to study the behavior of machine tool. As these procedures do not integrate HSM technology, the need for HSM machine tool tests becomes critical to improving the trade-off between machining time and part quality. A new protocol for analysing the HSM technology impact during circular interpolation is presented in the second part of the paper. This protocol which allows evaluating kinematic machine tool behaviour during circular interpolation was designed from tests without machining. These tests are discussed and their results analysed in the paper. During the circular interpolation, axis capacities (such as acceleration or Jerk) related to certain setting parameters of the numerical control unit have a significant impact on the value of the feed rate. Consequently, a kinematic model for a circular-interpolated trajectory was developed on the basis of these parameters. Moreover, the link between part accuracy and kinematic machine tool behaviour was established. The kinematic model was ultimately validated on a bore machining simulation

Feed rate modeling in circular–circular interpolation discontinuity for high-speed milling

In this paper, a modeling approach is presented in order to evaluate feed rate during a circular interpolation in high-speed milling. The developed model depends on the type of discontinuity and the kinematic performance of the machine tool. To begin with, a feed rate modeling for circular interpolation with continuity in tangency is developed. After, the discontinuity in tangency between two circular interpolations is replaced by discontinuity in curvature by adding a fillet which is in relation to the functional tolerance ε imposed in the part design. An experimental study has been carried out to validate the models

Kinematic modelling of a 3-axis NC machine tool in linear and circular interpolation

Machining time is a major performance criterion when it comes to high-speed machining. CAM software can help in estimating that time for a given strategy. But in practice, CAM-programmed feed rates are rarely achieved, especially where complex surface finishing is concerned. This means that machining time forecasts are often more than one step removed from reality. The reason behind this is that CAM routines do not take either the dynamic performances of the machines or their specific machining tolerances into account. The present article seeks to improve simulation of high-speed NC machine dynamic behaviour and machining time prediction, offering two models. The first contributes through enhanced simulation of three-axis paths in linear and circular interpolation, taking high-speed machine accelerations and jerks into account. The second model allows transition passages between blocks to be integrated in the simulation by adding in a polynomial transition path that caters for the true machining environment tolerances. Models are based on respect for path monitoring. Experimental validation shows the contribution of polynomial modelling of the transition passage due to the absence of a leap in acceleration. Simulation error on the machining time prediction remains below 1%

Modeling and simulation of high speed milling centers dynamics

High speed machining is a milling operation in industrial production of aeronautic parts, molds and dies. The parts production is being reduced because of the slowing down of the machining resulting from the tool path discontinuity machining strategy. In this article, we propose a simulation tool of the machine dynamic behavior, in complex parts machining. For doing this, analytic models have been developed expressing the cutting tool feed rate. Afterwards, a simulation method, based on numerical calculation tools, has been structured. In order to validate our approach, we have compared the simulation results with the experimental ones, for the same examples

Pilot optical alignment

PILOT (Polarized Instrument for Long wavelength Observations of the Tenuous interstellar medium) is a balloonborne astronomy experiment designed to study the polarization of dust emission in the diffuse interstellar medium in our Galaxy. The PILOT instrument allows observations at wavelengths 240 μm and 550 μm with an angular resolution of about two arcminutes. The observations performed during the two first flights performed from Timmins, Ontario Canada, and from Alice-springs, Australia, respectively in September 2015 and in April 2017 have demonstrated the good performances of the instrument. Pilot optics is composed of an off axis Gregorian type telescope combined with a refractive re-imager system. All optical elements, except the primary mirror, which is at ambient temperature, are inside a cryostat and cooled down to 3K. The whole optical system is aligned on ground at room temperature using dedicated means and procedures in order to keep the tight requirements on the focus position and ensure the instrument optical performances during the various phases of a flight. We’ll present the optical performances and the firsts results obtained during the two first flight campaigns. The talk describes the system analysis, the alignment methods, and finally the inflight performances

Pilot optical alignment

PILOT (Polarized Instrument for Long wavelength Observations of the Tenuous interstellar medium) is a balloonborne astronomy experiment designed to study the polarization of dust emission in the diffuse interstellar medium in our Galaxy. The PILOT instrument allows observations at wavelengths 240 μm (1.2THz) with an angular resolution about two arc-minutes. The observations performed during the first flight in September 2015 at Timmins, Ontario Canada, have demonstrated the optical performances of the instrument