Monitoring and Adaptive Control of Cutting Process by Means of Motor Power and Current Measurements

Summary This study is carried out to establish the feasibility of motor power and current measurements for ACO, ACC and monitoring. The dynamics of measured power and current signals from the spindle and feed motors of an NC lathe and a machining center is investigated to establish the response of power and current variations due to tool wear, tool breakage and vibrations. An extensive investigation of two commercially available adaptive control systems (based on motor current measurement) - one on an NC lathe and the other on a machining center is conducted with the aim of exploring practical aspects when employing such systems in workshop environment.