Intelligent machine tools development status and outlook

Intelligent machine tools are the basis for intelligent manufacturing. Machine tool intelligence can be divided into 3 aspects: ① machine tool components themselves, including spindle units, feed drives, structural components of intelligence, for thermal deformation compensation, etc.; ② intelligent CNC system, from the processing equipment controller evolved to the terminal of the factory network, production data can be automatically collected, to achieve real-time communication between machine tools and machine tools, machine tools and management systems at all levels, so that production transparency, into the organization and management of enterprises, and Create intelligent factories; ③ machine tool intelligence and networking for the social sharing of manufacturing resources, the construction of off-site, virtual cloud factory to create the conditions, thus moving towards a new era of sharing economy, creating more value.

Traditional CNC machine tools are driven in accordance with the G command and M command machine components to achieve the relative motion of the tool and workpiece, there is no perception and feedback on the actual working state of the machine tool. During operation, the machine tool deforms and vibrates under the action of cutting forces, inertial forces, friction and internal and environmental thermal loads, resulting in the actual path of the tool deviating from the theoretical path and reducing machining accuracy, surface quality and production efficiency.

At the heart of intelligent machine tools lies the construction of a model-based closed-loop machining system. With the help of sensors such as temperature, acceleration and displacement to monitor changes in the machine tool's operating conditions and environment, real-time regulation and control can be used to optimise cutting parameters, eliminate vibration, compensate for thermal deformation and exploit the full potential of the machine tool. Another function of the intelligent machine tool is network communication, a node in the factory network that enables intercommunication between machine tools and shop floor management systems, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the production system.