Study on Process Monitoring of Elliptical Vibration Cutting by Utilizing Internal Data in Ultrasonic Elliptical Vibration Device

In the present study, monitoring of elliptical vibration cutting process by utilizing internal data in the ultrasonic elliptical vibration device without external sensors such as a dynamometer and displacement sensor is investigated. The internal data utilized here is the change of excitation frequency, i.e. resonant frequency of the device, voltages applied to the piezoelectric actuators composing the device, and electric currents flowing through the actuators. These internal data change automatically in the elliptical vibration control system in order to keep a constant elliptical vibration against the change of the cutting process. Correlativity between the process and the internal data is described by using a vibration model of ultrasonic elliptical vibration cutting and verified by several experiments, i.e. planing and mirror surface finishing of hardened die steel carried out with single crystalline diamond tools. As a result, it is proved that it is possible to estimate the elements of elliptical vibration cutting process, e.g. tool wear and machining load, which are important for stable cutting in such precision machining.