Model-Based Machining Force Control

Regulating machining forces provides significant economic benefits by increasing operation productivity and improving part quality. Machining force regulation is a challenging problem since the force process varies significantly under normal operating conditions. Since fixed-gain controllers cannot guarantee system performance and stability as the force process varies, a substantial research effort has been invested in the development of adaptive force controllers. However, adaptive controllers can be difficult to develop, analyze, implement, and maintain due to their inherent complexity. Consequently, adaptive machining force controllers have found little application in industry. In this paper, a model-based machining force control approach, which incorporates detailed force process models, is introduced. The proposed design has a simple structure and explicitly accounts for the changes in the force process to maintain system performance and stability. Two model-based machining force controllers are implemented in face milling operations. The stability robustness of the closed-loop system with respect to model parameter uncertainties is analyzed, and the analysis is verified via simulation and experimental studies. [S0022-0434(00)02303-0]