VSS motion control for a laser-cutting machine ☆

Abstract An advanced position-tracking control algorithm has been developed and applied to a CNC motion controller in a laser-cutting machine. The drive trains of the laser-cutting machine are composed of belt-drives. The elastic servomechanism can be described by a two-mass system interconnected by a spring. Owing to the presence of elasticity, friction and disturbances, the closed-loop performance using a conventional control approach is limited. Therefore, the motion control algorithm is derived using the variable system structure control theory. It is shown that the proposed control effectively suppresses the mechanical vibrations and ensures compensation of the system uncertainties. Thus, accurate position tracking is guaranteed.