Monitoring and control of highspeed milling

Abstract: The ability to monitor the behaviour of machine tools and cutting processes
is important both from a research perspective as well as in industrial
applications such as adaptive control, condition monitoring, process
optimization and quality control.

The division of Manufacturing Engineering at Luleå university of technology
have been carrying out research in the area of high speed and multi axis (5-
axis) machining since the mid 1990's. This European and nationally funded
research, much of it carried out with Nottingham University and Sandvik
Coromant, as well as in manufacturing companies in Sweden and the UK, has
focused on understanding the possibilities offered by 5-axis / high speed
machining, as well as understanding the machining process. This initially
empirical work has become more qualitative through the development of an
instrumented machine tool test bed based on a 5-axis Leichti Turbomill
equipped with a 24,000 rpm spindle and fast controller.

The instrumentation that has been implemented includes piezo-electric force
transducers in the machine table whilst ongoing work will move the research
focus towards monitoring vibration in the workpiece for which
accelerometers and acoustic emission sensors will be used.
The work presented will highlight the problems and solutions involved in
creating the present test bed as well as indicating future research
directions and challenges