Identification of machine-tool-workpiece system dynamics

The aim of this paper is to present a method to identify the dynamics of a structure composed of a milling machine, a tool and a workpiece. The excitation is obtained as a result of the interrupted cutting of a narrow workpiece width and single tooth milling operations. This provides a pulse-like cutting force. The three components of the cutting force and the relative motion between the tool and the workpiece are measured simultaneously. A method was developed to determine the nine terms of the structural transfer matrix under a single cutting operation and without any assumption on the excitation direction. The proposed method is experimentally validated. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.