Finite element analysis of a vertical machining center with aluminum profile framing

Nowadays, vertical machining centers are extensively used in industrial applications. Therefore, importance of design and analysis of vertical machining centers is increasing. Machine designers are commonly used computer aided engineering methods in the design process. In this study, for a vertical machining center with aluminum profile framing, a finite element model developed and finite element analyses are employed. Vibration analysis is a method which has been widely used in structural engineering for determining structural modal parameters, such as natural frequencies, mode shapes, etc. In this study, vibration analysis of a vertical machining center which constructed with modular aluminum profile systems is considered. For the vibration analysis, finite elements method is used. A finite elements model of the vertical machining center is developed by using ANSYS parametric design language (APDL). Then, vibration analysis results have been obtained. To validate accuracy of the finite element model experimental modal testing is carried out. Vibrations arisen after the motion is called residual vibrations. Residual vibrations significantly affect positioning achievement of the end point in flexible systems. To control the residual vibrations of the vertical machining center, trapezoidal velocity profile is applied with open loop control both experimentally and numerically. Keywords: Vertical machining center, aluminum profile, computer aided engineering, finite elements method, residual vibrations.