Title: Comprehensive testing and performance evaluation of chain-type tool magazine and ATC

Authors: Yihan Luan; Xiaohong Lu; Pengzhuo Han; Yun Zou; Steven Y. Liang

Addresses: Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China ' Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China ' Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China ' Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China ' The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0405, USA

Abstract: Considering that the failure of chain-type tool magazine and automatic tool changer (ATC) usually associates with the change of some performance parameters, comprehensive laboratory testing and performance evaluation of chain-type tool magazine and ATC need to be studied. Firstly, the control system of the tool magazine and ATC is designed, including the magazine movement control, ATC motion control and the realisation of NC system. Then, based on the failure data, the authors develop a comprehensive performance testing system for tool magazine and ATC. The system can realise the testing of angular rotation and axial shifts of manipulator, vibration of ATC, positioning error, vibration on the tool oriented part and noise. Finally, the system is applied in the testing of a tool magazine and ATC, and the experimental results show that the developed chain-type tool magazine and ATC comprehensive laboratory testing and performance evaluation system can be realised. [Submitted 3 April 2019; Accepted 9 February 2020]

Keywords: tool magazine; automatic tool changer; ATC; laboratory testing; performance evaluation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMR.2021.119632

International Journal of Manufacturing Research, 2021 Vol.16 No.4, pp.380 - 398

Received: 03 Apr 2019
Accepted: 09 Feb 2020

Published online: 13 Dec 2021 *

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