Design and modeling for chatter control

Boring bars for single-point turning on a lathe are particularly susceptible to chatter and have been the subject of numerous studies. Chatter is, in general, caused by instability. Clearly, the cutting process can be limited to regions of known stable operation. However, this severely constrains the machine-tool operation and causes a decrease in productivity. The more aggressive approach is to attack the stability problem directly through application of vibration control. Here, we demonstrate a new biaxial vibration control system (VPI Smart Tool) for boring bars. We present the experimentally determined modal properties of the VPI Smart Tool and demonstrate how these properties may be used to develop models suitable for chatter stability analysis, simulation, and development of feedback compensation. A phenomenological chatter model that captures much of the rich dynamic character observed during experiments is presented. We introduce the notion that the mean cutting force changes direction as the width of cut increases due to the finite nose radius of the tool. This phenomenon is used to explain the progression from chatter that is dominated by motions normal to the machined surface at small widths of cut to chatter that is dominated by motions tangential to the machined surface at large widths of cut. We show experimental evidence to support our assertion that a biaxial actuation scheme is necessary to combat the tendency of the tool to chatter in both directions. We then present some preliminary theoretical results concerning the persistence of subcritical instability as we expand consideration to high-speed machining.