Design and dynamic analysis of three degrees of freedom desk-top reconfigurable machine

This paper presents the development of three degrees of freedom (DOF) desk-top reconfigurable machine tool. Recently, numerous components or systems in various areas such as biomedical, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMs) often require dedicated and precise but cost efficient manufacturing process along with large fluctuations of product demands in a global market. These demands lead us to develop a downscaled desk-top manufacturing machine which reduces the size of a machine but offers to control multi-DOF motions rapidly and smoothly. In this paper, we first introduce the design concept of three DOFs desk-top reconfigurable machine and analyze both static and dynamic structure characteristics. The results show feasibility that the position and orientation of the machine tool can be controlled during the machining operation simultaneously. Then, the dynamic simulations and experimental results using a closed loop control with a position feedback are presented to demonstrate performance and feature of the system. Unlike conventional full scaled manufacturing machines, the machine developed here provides a number of advantages; light weight and fast dynamic response, simple design and low cost, compact but relatively large workspace without motion singularity.