Published: 30 June 2017

Reliability of chatter stability in CNC turning process by Monte Carlo simulation method

Mubarak A. M. FadulAlmula1
Haitao Zhu2
Hassan A. Wahab3
1College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, No. 145 Nantong Street, Harbin 150001, China
2College of Ship Building Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, No. 145 Nantong Street, Harbin 150001, China
3, 1Faculty of Engineering and Technical Studies, University of Elimam Elmahdi, Kosti, Sudan
Corresponding Author:
Mubarak A. M. FadulAlmula
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Abstract

In turning process, regenerative chatter stability is regarded as an outcome favor in achieving reliable cutting performance. Since nowadays there is great demand in producing very high quality parts, researchers devoted great efforts in developing theoretical and analytical means for understanding, analyzing and solving the stability of a given machining process. In general, the stability of turning process could be influenced by random variables such as machine stiffness, damping and cutting force. Therefore, in this paper, a new method for predicting the reliability of regenerative chatter stability in turning process is proposed. This involves application of Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) tool to study the statistical distribution of regenerative chatter stability during turning process. The employed dynamic model of the regenerative chatter was defined, and the relationship between cutting depth and spindle speed was obtained by Laplace transformation. The sampling distribution information of kinetic parameters of the cutting system was evaluated for the regenerative chatter model. Thus, the limit cutting width of the samples was obtained. The statistical characteristics probability showed that the actual cutting width is less than the limit cutting width. Therefore, the regenerative chatter stability prediction by Monte Carlo simulation was regarded as a criterion.

1. Introduction

In numerical control turning operations, cutting vibration seriously contributes in affecting the workpiece machineability, and hence, lowers the finished part quality. Previous research demonstrated that the cutting vibration is often caused by regenerative feedback inside the system which is termed as self-excited vibration or cutting chatter [1]. In general, chatter in machining process can be categorized as regenerative cutting chatter, vibration mode coupled cutting chatter and negative friction cutting chatter. It is well known that regenerative chatter is the most important form of vibration which deleteriously affecting the machining process [2, 3]. Usually for solving the machining chatter instability issue, dynamic model analysis of the system, which includes the influence of axial cutting force and gyroscopic effect on chatter stability, must be introduced. Then dynamic cutting experiments should be performed in order to verify the correctness of the theoretical model [4-6]. Similar procedure was employed in the chatter prediction of milling operation using continuous wavelet features and multi class ball support vector machines (SVM) where stiffness and damping were optimized [7]. In other research works Y. Altintas et al. [8] investigated the influence of the vibration coupling on the machining stability of CNC machine tool subsystem. P. Albertelli et al. [9] established chatter stability analysis model for heavy duty milling machine to optimize the process planning and tool selection process. However, the stability analysis model of traditional cutting chatter ignores the influence of uncertain factors, which will inevitably lead to certain analysis errors. In machining practice, usually there are few deterministic factors, most of which are stochastic factors inherent in the process of metal cutting and cannot be ignored. Accordingly, the practical machining process is very likely to have performance deviation, and it is often difficult to achieve the exact desired effect. In this study, we intended to take into consideration the effect of random factors in the stability of the CNC turning operation. Therefore, a generalized method for predicting the reliability of chatter stability for this process is intended to be achieved by using Monte Carlo numerical simulation.

2. Analysis of the regenerative chatter

The regenerative chatter analysis of the turning process in question is based on the difference between cutting thickness caused by the phase difference and the vibration displacement [10]. Fig. 1 represents the dynamic model of regenerative chatter system for this process. Accordingly, the differential equation of vibration [1, 3] is given as follows:

1
mq¨t+cq˙t+kqt=Fdtcos(β-α),

where m is the equivalent mass of lathe tool system, c is the equivalent resistance, k is the equivalent stiffness, β is the angle between the dynamic cutting force, ΔFdt is the tool vibration direction, α is the angle between the main vibration direction and qt is the direction of tool vibration.

Fig. 1Dynamic and inertia model of the vibrated system

Dynamic and inertia model of the vibrated system

The dynamic cutting force ΔFdt is generally caused by the variation in the cutting thickness, and can be expressed by the follows relationship:

2
Fdt=kcbat=kcbμyt-T-y(t),

where b is the cutting width, kc is the stiffness coefficient per unit width of cut, y(t)=q(t)cosα is the cutter vibration displacement, 0<μ<1 is the overlap coefficient of twice cutting.

By substituting Eq. (2) into Eq. (1) the differential equation of regenerative chatter can be rearranged as follows:

3
y¨t+2ωnζy˙t+ωn2yt=Kyt-μy(t-T),

where ωn is the natural angular frequency of the vibrated system, ωn2=k/m, ζ is the damping ratio, ζ=c/(2mωn) and u=cos(βα)cosα is the directional coefficient.

The dynamic response of turning vibration is given by the following expression:

4
yt=Asin(ωt+φ).

Substitution Eq. (4) into Eq. (3), we can obtain expression for Eq. (5) as follows:

5
y¨t+(2ωnζ-Kμsin(ωT)/ω)y˙t+ωn2-K(1-μcos(ωT))yt=0.

By employing Laplace transformation to Eq. (5), we can obtain the characteristic equation of the chatter system as follows:

6
s2+(2ωnζ-Kμsin(ωT)/ω)s+ωn2-K(1-μcos(ωT))=0.

Hence, the stability state of the vibrated system can be judged by the root of Eq. (6) where s=σ+iω. Then if the real part of s is σ>0, the turning process system is in unstable state. However, when σ<0 the turning process is considered to be in stable state. Otherwise, the turning process system is in limiting state when σ= 0. Therefore, in Eq. (6) the value of s was replaced by iω and the equation became as follows:

7
ωn2-ω2+2ωnωζi=K(1-μcos(ωT))+KμsinωTi.

If the real parts in the left and right sides of the Eq. (7) are feasible, then should be respectively equal. Thus, the following expressions were concluded:

8
ωn2-ω2=K(1-μcos(ωT)),2ωnωζ=Kμsin(ωT).

Assuming that that λ=ω/ωn, then Eq. (8) can be further converted to the following expression:

9
1-λ2=-kcbu(1-μcos(ωT)/k,2ζλ=-Kbμusin(ωT)/k .

By Solving Eq. (9), the limit cutting width of machine tool is obtained:

10
blim=1-μcos2jπ+arcsin2ζλμ2μλ2+1-λ22-arctan2ζλ1-λ21+μ2-2μcos2jπ+arcsin2ζλμ2μλ2+1-λ22-arctan2ζλ1-λ2
k(1-λ2)2+(2ζλ)2kcu(λ2-1), j=0, 1,.

And the corresponding spindle speed N is given by the following relationship:

11
N=60λωn2jπ+arcsin2ζλμ2μλ2+1-λ22-arctan2ζλ1-λ2, j=0, 1.

By substituting the dynamic parameters k, c, m, α, β, kc, and μ in Eqs. (10) and (11), the limit cutting width for the stable machining blim and the corresponding spindle speed N at j= 0, 1,…, n, can be obtained.

By substituting μ= 1 into Eq. (9), with a larger overlap coefficient of cutting, the chatter can be easily generated, the minimum limiting width of cut for stable machining is expressed as follows:

12
(blim)min=2kζ1+ζkcu.

3. Reliability expressions for Monte Carlo simulation

In general, mechanical reliability refers to the ability of mechanical products to complete the specified function in the exact required service period, and it can be a measurable value. The two-common method for measuring the reliability are the moments method and Monte Carlo simulation. Comparing Monte Carlo simulation with moment method, the former one has the advantage of high universality and high precision [11]. However, Monte Carlo method is based on a large number of simulation and calculations, which is not suitable for predicting the reliability of complex numerical models as finite element method. As the case in this study does not involve complicated numerical model, Monte Carlo simulation is an appropriate tool to be used here, since numerical control cutting width is an explicit expression. Therefore, the chatter stability of the CNC turning operation was predicted and compared in the term of cutting width. Thus, the reliability of the turning system stability can be described as a multidimensional integral, given by:

13
ps=... b<blim(x) fx(x1,x2,...,xn)dx1dx2...dxn,

where x1, x2,..., xn are random design variables (k, ζ, ωn, μ, u, kc), n is the number of random design variables, fx(x1, x2,…, xn) the joint probability density function of random design variables.

If the design variables are independent of each other, Eq. (13) can be rewritten as follows:

14
ps=...b<blim(x) fx1(x1),fx2(x2)...fxn(xn)dx1dx2...dxn,

where fxixi (i=1, 2,...,n)is probability density function of xi of random variables.

The basic idea is that the reliability of turning chatter stability indeed can be solved by using MCS method where the N groups of random samples xj (j= 1, 2,…, N) are generated from the probability density function (PDF) fxixi of random variable Xi. The N random samples are substituted into the function expression of limiting width of cut for stable machining as represented by Eq. (10). Then, it is counted for the number of sample points Nr that blim is greater than the actual cutting width b, and the reliability Ps is approximately replaced by using a frequency that is corresponding to Nr/N as in the following expression:

15
ps=...Rn Ir(x)fx(x1,x2,...,xn)dx1dx2...dxn=E(Ir(x))Nr/N,

where:

Ir(x)=1, xR,0, (xR).

Is the indicator function in the security domain Rn; n is dimensional variable space; and E represents of the mathematical.

4. Calculation and estimation of chatter stability

Fig. 2 reveals the followed steps to obtain the estimated numerical values for the reliability of chatter stability as function of cutting width and the machine spindle speed. In the first step, we need to determine the number of simulation N. Secondly the N groups of samples are extracted according to the information distribution of the design parameters. Thirdly, the machining stability is changed by the sample generation analysis of the model to calculate the ultimate cutting width (blim). In the final step, the reliability of the machine stability is calculated. This requires taking into consideration the characteristic parameters of the CNC lathe machine during cutting process Table 1. Therefore, the characteristics parameters values of the lathe machine were substituted in Eqs. (9), (10) and (11) respectively in order to obtain the output data for cutting width with the spindle speed. After then the results were plotted in the lobe graph of the CNC lathe as shown in Fig. 3. It can be seen that the limiting cutting width is varied with the spindle speeds, and the minimum limiting cutting width (blim) min is equal to 0.36 mm. Then Monte Carlo simulation method was used to estimate the reliability of the process chatter stability, which is mainly based on statistical analysis of the data. Generally, the variance of random parameters can be obtained by the reliability testing or the statistical analysis of experimental data. However, in the current case there is no experimental data, and thus, the variance of the random parameters can be determined from the variation coefficient C which is set to be equal to 0.05. In this case, the random parameters are said to obey the statistical normal distribution, if a large number of independent factors [12, 13] influence the random variables.

By following the steps in Fig. 2 using 105 Monte Carlo sampling simulations, the limit cutting widths and the equivalent reliability of chatter stability were estimated. Fig. 4 shows the result obtained from the simulation. It can be seen that the very good stability of the machine chatter was obtained at cutting width equal to 0.28 mm, while the poorest machine stability occurs at cutting width of (blim) where the equivalent reliability is only 52 % (Table 2).

Table 1Characteristic parameters of CNC lathe machine

K (N/mm2)
C (Ns/mm)
m (Ns2/mm)
α (degree)
β (degree)
Kc (N/mm2)
μ
3100
0.6
0.01
60
45
2018
1

Table 2Calculated reliability values by the advanced MCS methods

Cutting width (mm)
Reliability (%)
Chatter stability indication
0.28
98
Good stability
0.32
84
Low stability
blimmin
52
Poor stability

Fig. 2Flowchart for calculating chatter stability reliability

Flowchart for calculating chatter stability reliability

5. Conclusions

Based on Monte Carlo simulation, the reliability of regenerative chatter stability was calculated. In Comparison with the traditional cutting force prediction method, Monte Carlo simulation take into consideration the influence of the random parameters such as stiffness, damping, mass and cutting stiffness coefficient on the cutting process stability. It can well predict with very close approximation to the actual situation of the process. Furthermore, different spindle speed for turning process can be predicted where good machine stability is attained. This study provided information on how to improve the machining accuracy, ensure long tool life and increasing production rate. The output of this study is expected to have practical application in manufacturing engineering.

Fig. 3Stable lobe graph of CNC turning operation

Stable lobe graph of CNC  turning operation

Fig. 4Reliability of chatter stability of CNC turning operation by MCS method

Reliability of chatter stability  of CNC turning operation by MCS method

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About this article

Received
26 May 2017
Accepted
27 May 2017
Published
30 June 2017
SUBJECTS
Mechanical vibrations and applications
Keywords
regenerative chatter
CNC lathe
reliability
stability
Acknowledgements

This paper is funded by the international Exchange Program of Harbin Engineering University for Innovation-oriented Talented Cultivation.