Machine Tool Damper Assembly for Broad-Frequency Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Machine tools experience vibrations during machining operations, leading to deteriorated surface quality, reduced productivity, and increased production costs, with existing damper devices requiring complex manual tuning and limited vibrational damping over a wide frequency range.

Innovation Solution

A damper device comprising a tubular element with a damping mass and spring elements, along with a vibration damping material that compresses between surfaces to attenuate kinetic and potential vibration energy, providing improved damping across a broader frequency range and simplifying assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pre-tuned mass damper with viscous fluid is used, then the damper functions well at its targeted frequency range, but it requires complex manual tuning and is limited to a specific frequency range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping performanceVSAvoidmanual tuning complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring element is designed to automatically adjust its stiffness based on the damping mass position, eliminating the need for manual tuning. The system self-regulates by utilizing the relationship between spring compression and damping mass position to maintain optimal damping across varying frequencies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The spring element's stiffness is made variable rather than fixed, allowing it to adapt dynamically to different operating conditions. As the damping mass moves to different positions, the spring compression changes, automatically adjusting the damping characteristics to match the required frequency range

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If the spring element stiffness is increased to improve rigidity, then structural stability improves, but the operational frequency range decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural rigidityVSAvoidoperational frequency range
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The spring element provides variable stiffness that adapts to different operational requirements. At different damping mass positions, the spring compression varies, automatically adjusting the effective stiffness to maintain both structural integrity and broad frequency response without requiring a fixed high-stiffness design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If manual fine adjustment of supporting stiffness is performed to tune eigenfrequency, then frequency matching is achieved, but the tuning process becomes intricate and requires specialized knowledge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency matching accuracyVSAvoidtuning operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system eliminates the need for operator intervention in frequency tuning. The spring element automatically adjusts the supporting stiffness based on the damping mass position, achieving precise frequency matching without requiring specialized knowledge or manual adjustment procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The damper device effectively attenuates vibrations at multiple frequencies, enhancing machining performance, surface finish, and extending the tool's lifetime while maintaining high rigidity and reducing assembly complexity.

Implementation Method 1

The spring elements comprise a material having a frequency dependent elastic modulus to provide a self-tuning effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The spring elements comprise a material having a frequency dependent elastic modulus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Implementation Method 3

a vibration damping material provided between the first surface and the second surface, the vibration damping material being arranged to attenuate potential vibration energy of the damper device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMaterial damping: Damping

Implementation Method 4

By tuning the vibrational eigenfrequency of the mass damper assembly to match the vibrational frequency of the machine tool, kinetic vibration energy is transferred to the damping mass to stabilize movements of the machine tool

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP4313482B1Damper device, machine tool and method of assembling said damper device
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 MAQ AB
  • EP4313482B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4313482B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4313482B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A damper device (12) for a machine tool (10), the damper device comprising a tubular element (20) having a cavity (40) and a central axis (18), the tubular element comprising a first surface (48); a damping mass (32) arranged within the cavity and movable radially with respect to the central axis and relative to the tubular element; at least one spring element (34, 36) supporting the damping mass relative to the tubular element, the damping mass and the at least one spring element being arranged to attenuate kinetic vibration energy of the damper device; at least one fixed part (26) having a fixed interior portion (50) inside the cavity and a second surface (54); and a vibration damping material (30) provided between the first surface and the second surface, the vibration damping material being arranged to attenuate potential vibration energy of the damper device; wherein the vibration damping material is substantially evenly compressed between the first surface and the second surface.