A contribution to the mathematical analysis of variable spindle speed machining

Abstract It has been observed that the critical depth of cut in single-point machining can be increased by continuously varying the spindle speed. Several more experimentally oriented analyses have confirmed this observation. Theoretical models have been set up but in general do not confirm the experimentally obtained results. The analysis presented here, although starting from a different point of view, confirms some of the work by Sexton et al . It further yields detailed supplementary information, particularly concerning the nature of the chatter vibration under variable spindle speed and the dependence of the process on the amplitude of the speed variation. These results are illustrated by some specific experimental evidence.