Experimental and Numerical Dynamic Identification of an Aerostatic Electro-Spindle

Featured Application Aerostatic spindles are used in high-speed micromachining applications. The main goal of the work is to validate the developed non-linear numerical model through the proposed identification procedure and the performed experimental tests. This paper proposes a method to experimentally identify the main modal parameters, i.e., natural frequencies and damping ratios, of an aerostatic spindle for printed board circuit drilling. A variety of methods is applied to the impulse-response function of the spindle in the presence of zero rotational speed and different supply pressures. Moreover, the paper describes the non-linear numerical model of the spindle, which consists of a four-degree-of-freedom (DOF) rigid and unsymmetrical rotor supported by two aerostatic bearings. The main goal of the work is to validate the developed non-linear numerical model through the proposed identification procedure and the performed experimental tests. The comparison proves satisfactory, and the possible sources of uncertainty are conjectured.