Automatic tuning of active vibration control systems using inertial actuators

Material removal rates of machine tools are mainly limited by chatter, which is caused by the machine's most flexible structural modes. Active damping of the structural modes requires the identification of a machine dynamics model used in tuning the active controller. This complex process has to consider uncertainties, actuator saturation, and the stability of the controller. This paper presents an automated identification of machine dynamics and auto-tuning of the controller using the same actuator and vibration sensor. The proposed method has been experimentally demonstrated with simple and advanced controllers which led to notable increases in chatter free material removal rates.