Compact Uni- and Multiaxial Electrodynamic Feed Units for Small Machine Tools

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Jens Lienig
• Subject Area: Metal-Cutting and Abrasive Manufacturing Engineering
• Term: from 2010 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 172270662

Feed motions up to 25 mm can advantageously be realised with simple single-phase electrodynamic direct drives. Especially designs with moving magnets feature high force densities and good dynamic behavior. In conjunction with embedded position or force control and ball or flexure guide of the mover, this enables very compact drive units. Starting point for the planned research project are two existing prototypes of such uniaxial feed units: a compact, nearly cube-shaped module with a ball-guided slide and embedded position control as well as a cylindrical module with an axially movable, spring-guided mover. Initially, both prototypes shall be optimized with a redesign of the control hard- and software and the position sensor. The knowledge gained thereby shall subsequently be used for the design of multiaxial, planar electrodynamic direct drives. As for the uniaxial feed units mentioned above, multi-phase windings and commutation are not needed due to small feed ranges to be realised. This enables particularly simple magnetic designs and driver circuits. Starting from various principle design solutions at hand, a prototype of such a planar direct drive shall be designed, built and tested. Attention is paid to a cost-effective design, in particular of the position measurement subsystem, and a large ratio between feed range and footprint of the module. After initial laboratory tests, the above-mentioned uni- and multiaxial feed units will be combined with tool and frame modules resp. of the partners within SPP 1476 to versatile small machine tools and will be tested with exemplary machining processes.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1476: Small Machine Tools for Small Work Pieces