Design of a contactless powered and piezoelectric-actuated tool for non-resonant low-frequency vibration-assisted machining of brittle-hard materials

Abstract

Ultrasonic-assisted grinding (UAG) is the state-of-the-art process for machining of brittle-hard materials. In comparison to conventional processes, the main advantages lie in the reduction of tool wear and process forces. Such a vibration system is based on a resonant actuator and a power supply unit generating the alternating current. Both units are interconnected by a contactless energy transfer (CET) system. This system configuration shows one optimal working point at the resonant frequency with maximum amplitude, which is significantly depending on the tool shape. In this work, a piezo-activated tool system is designed to realize non-resonant low-frequency vibrations. Major emphasis is put on the thermal behavior of the piezo drive, particularly on the in-process heating depending on the working frequency. In addition, focus lays on the theoretical and numerical design of the radial operating transducer CET system for a previously set actuator design. As a result, this system configuration offers a fully variable adjustment of the amplitude from under 1 to over 50 μm at frequency range. Outside this range, higher amplitudes can be achieved for short periods to the detriment of the fatigue strength according to FKM.