Machine Tool Design

Machine tools are the most fundamental and essential machines in industrial manufacturing shops. Performance of machine tools in terms of machine accuracy (high precision) and machine productivity (high working efficiency) greatly depends on the static rigidity and dynamic characteristics of the machine tools [1–3]. Therefore, until now the design optimization of machine-tool structures has been studied intensively [4–8]. Small static and vibrational displacements are mainly evaluated for realizing high machine accuracy. Far smaller displacements. than those existing at the state of machine failure (breakdown), at which the stress is usually known only approximately, must be considered for evaluating the performance of machine tools. That is, the design of machine tools is a displacement criterion design problem. The static rigidity and dynamic characteristics also depend on the design of the machine structures which are composed of structural members and machine elements as well as of joints connecting the structural members and machine elements.