A Multi-Tier Design Methodology for Reconfigurable Milling Machines

Abstract

Reconfigurable Machine Tools (RMTs) have been developed in response to agile flexible manufacturing demands. Current design methodologies for RMTs support modular reconfigurability in which a machine configuration is assembled for a given part. In this paper, on the other hand, reconfigurability relies on redundancy, namely, a desired RMT configuration is obtained through topological reconfiguration by locking/unlocking degrees-of-freedom (dof). Thus, in order to design a Redundant Reconfigurable Machine Tool (RRMT) with all of its dof already included, a new multi–tier optimization based design methodology was developed. The design is formulated for the efficient selection of the best architecture from a set of serial/parallel/hybrid solutions, while considering the redundant reconfigurability effect on performance. The viability of the methodology is demonstrated herein via a design test case of a Parallel Kinematic Mechanism (PKM)-based Redundant Reconfigurable meso-Milling Machine Tool (RRmMT) that can attain high stiffness at the high feed-rate required in meso-milling.