Machine Tools With Metal Foams

Abstract

Machine tool construction calls for subassemblies with reduced weight while retaining excellent dynamic properties. Modern frame components do always meet required static stiffness but often display oscillation problems due to low component wall thicknesses. Breaking down solid steel structure into wide‐area sandwich designs such as steel‐aluminum foam‐steel panels results in good static properties to be combined with excellent properties since these sandwiches have 30 to 40 times the flexural strength. This is due to their major geometrical moment of inertia in relation to adequate‐mass steel sheet metals. In addition, the foam core dampens oscillations. Studies on foamed steel sections indicate that 2 to 3 times higher damping is likely in relation to unfoamed steel sections. These benefits were the motivation for the Chemnitz Metal Foam Center to accelerate development of extremely large‐format sandwiches with dimensions of 1,500 × 1,000 mm2.

The mechanical properties and modeling of a sintered hollow sphere steel foam

“…Multi-physics properties of metallic foams such as: lower thermal conductivity [14], vibration attenuation [15], sound absorption [16], fluid flow through open cells [15], fire resistance [17], electromagnetic [18] and radiation [19] shielding give metallic foams an advantage over conventional materials with comparable structural characteristics. There is great potential for multi-functional applications, though such designs require more sophisticated analysis methodologies.…”

Materials in machine tool structures

“…Since two decades, aluminum foam (Al-foam) is used in machine tools [198][199][200]. Hipke investigated characteristic design parameters such as pull out strength of joints and thermal expansion [115].…”

Plastic deformation and compressive mechanical properties of hollow sphere aluminum foams produced by space holder technique

“…Metal foams have made advancement in many areas owing to their superior multi-physics properties such as excellent strength to density ratio [2], desirable buckling behavior [3], vibration attenuation [4], great energy dissipation thanks to the plastic collapse [5], controllability on mechanical response [6], and high specific mechanical properties [7]. Application of metal foams in transportation industry is growing increasingly since safety implies use of low density materials with high energy absorption to reduce impact stresses [8].…”