A Computational Approach to the Integration of Adaptronical Structures in Machine Tools

The increasing competition on the international market requires intensified efforts of the machine tool manufacturers to further improve production accuracy and machining speed. Piezoelectric actuators can help to reach these goals by counteracting structural vibrations that impair the manufacturing process (e.g. chatter). By equipping production machines with piezo actuators, sensors, and a controller an adaptronical system is created. However, the application of these components requires high capital costs and engineering know-how. Likewise, it is difficult to predict the attainable manufacturing accuracies of adaptronically optimised machine tools. These facts impede the industrial use of this technical innovation. So far, a systematic and efficient integration of adaptronics into the design process of machine tools is missing. This paper deals with the development of a computational approach to the integration of adaptronical structures in machine tools. Hence, the machine tool manufacturer will be enabled to design an adap-tronical vibration damping system according to the process requirements of his customer.