Fuzzy Control of Spindle Torque in High-Speed Milling Processes

This paper presents the design and implementation of a two-input/two-output fuzzy logic-based torque control system embedded in an open architecture computer numerical control (CNC) for optimizing the material removal rate in high-speed milling processes. The control system adjusts the feed rate and spindle speed simultaneously as needed to regulate the cutting torque using the CNC’s own resources. The control system consists of a two-input (i.e., torque error and change of error), two-output (i.e., feed rate and spindle speed increment) fuzzy controller, which is embedded within the kernel of a standard open control. Two approaches are tested, and their performance is assessed using several performance measurements. These approaches are a two-input/two-output fuzzy controller and a single-output (i.e., feed rate modification only) fuzzy controller. The results demonstrate that the proposed control strategy provides better accuracy and machining cycle time than other strategies, thus increasing the metal removal rate.