Research Article Open Access

Dynamic Stiffness Control: An Approach Utilizing Heuristics

Abstract

For appropriate and even superior performance yet cost reduction, this work was performed with the aim of weight reduction in the overall design and construction of possibly any machine tools. As far as our literature search is concerned, there does not seem to be much work published regarding successful weight reduction while maintaining performance using Mass Participation Factor (MPF) in the areas of interest of the machine tools. In order to accomplish this task, we started with the ‘bed’ compartment of a CNC system and resorted to using the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software package and thoughtfully manipulated the available data/parameters until the desired results were obtained. The most important parameters were static stiffness, dynamic stiffness, and damping ratio. On the ‘bed’ of the machines’ compartment currently in production, it was so identified that there was unnecessary material (dead weight), and thus the FEA software was used in order to remove the unnecessary material by iteration. Finally, a new machine was built devoid of the unnecessary material, resulted in 9.3% weight reduction as predicted by the simulation, without sacrificing any accuracy and/or precision in performance.

Farhad Fakour, M. Hossein Siadati

To read the full article Download Full Article | Visit Full Article