Alternative experimental methods for machine tool dynamics identification: A review

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)

Improvement of boring operations by means of mode coupling effect

Boring bars are inherently slender tools which are prone to show chatter problems due to their low dynamic stiffness and damping, being this problem their main limitation in productivity. The onset of chatter is mainly related to the dynamic stiffness of the bending mode of the boring bar when the length L to dia-meter D ratio is higher than 4. Tuned mass dampers (TMD) are effective technical solutions to increase the dynamic stiffness of large ratio boring bars. However, there are many applications where 4-6 L/D ratio tools are required, and the avoidance of chatter without the application of TMDs is interesting due to the high cost of damped tools. This work proposes the use of mode coupling effect to increase the damping and stabilise the machining process avoiding the use of any special device. This effect occurs when the fre-quency of one of the machine's modes is similar to the frequency of the dominant mode of the boring bar. As a result, the shape of the critical mode of the boring bar is mixed with the mode originated in the machine, and the damping and stability will be higher than the one that is not subjected to any dynamic coupling. The main contribution of this work is the application of this concept to increase stability in boring operations. This objective has been achieved by optimising the tool length and material by means of a dynamic model based on Receptance Coupling Substructure Analysis (RCSA). The model combines an analytical model of the elastic body of the boring bar with the experimental characterisation of the effect of the rest of the machine. This way, the shape and materials of the boring bar can be optimised to create an increase of damping. The optimisation procedure has been experimentally validated resulting in an increase of cutting stability and demonstrating that not always a shorter bar supposes a higher stability.The authors thank the collaboration of Markel Sanz from IDEKO. This work has been supported by EUROSTARS FORTH E!12998 pro-ject and the EU Horizon 2020 InterQ project (958357/H2020-EU.2.1.5.1)

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

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)

A Consistent Procedure Using Response Surface Methodology to Identify Stiffness Properties of Connections in Machine Tools

Accurate finite element models of mechanical systems are fundamental resources to perform structural analyses at the design stage. However, uncertainties in material properties, boundary conditions, or connections give rise to discrepancies between the real and predicted dynamic characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to improve these models in order to achieve a better fit. This paper presents a systematic three-step procedure to update the finite element (FE) models of machine tools with numerous uncertainties in connections, which integrates statistical, numerical, and experimental techniques. The first step is the gradual application of fractional factorial designs, followed by an analysis of the variance to determine the significant variables that affect each dynamic response. Then, quadratic response surface meta-models, including only significant terms, which relate the design parameters to the modal responses are obtained. Finally, the values of the updated design variables are identified using the previous regression equations and experimental modal data. This work demonstrates that the integrated procedure gives rise to FE models whose dynamic responses closely agree with the experimental measurements, despite the large number of uncertainties, and at an acceptable computational cost.This work has been supported by the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU under programs PPGA17/04 and US17/16, and the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness under program DPI2016-74845-R