Entropy-based optimal control with applications in machining

Force control is an effective means of improving the quality and productivity of machining operations. However, machining processes exhibit nonlinear, time-varying and uncertain characteristics due to the variations in the depth of cut, spindle speed, and damping ration, etc. One of the difficulties in control of machining processes comes from the uncertainty and nonlinearity in cutting processes. An entropy-based optimal control approach for machining is developed to deal with such a difficulty in this paper. With this structure, constant cutting force is obtained by varying the table feedrate under time-varying cutting conditions, and control is realized by minimizing the entropy used as the control performance index. Experiments are given to demonstrate the approach, and satisfactory results are obtained.