Sensitivity analysis of the 3-PRS parallel kinematic spindle platform of a serial-parallel machine tool

The special configuration of a serial-parallel type machine tool possesses five degrees of freedom and provides more flexibility in NC machining. The parallel spindle platform plays the key role in manipulating three directions of movement. In this study, the inverse kinematics analysis of the platform is derived first. A sensitivity model of the spindle platform subject to the structure parameters is then proposed and analyzed. All the parameters influencing the position and orientation of the spindle platform are discussed based on the sensitivity model and the simulated examples. Critical parameters to the accuracy of the cutter location can then be found, which are the slider position, the strut length, and the tool length. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.