Optimization of the support structure of a multipurpose machine tool

Modern manufacturers of multipurpose machining centers design and manufacture equipment according to the criterion of maximum rigidity and productivity to ensure processing of the maximum range of materials at high accelerated cutting modes. As a result, in most machine-building tasks, the support structure of the machine is unnecessarily rigid due to the production of excessively massive frames and body elements of the machine. These structural elements have high weight and size characteristics, which leads to an increase in inertial loads on the drive feed mechanisms. In serial and mass production, heavy elements of the support structure significantly increase the energy consumption of the machine, while reducing labor productivity. Modern methods of design optimization, together with finite element methods, allow solving the problem of energy efficiency and productivity by modifying the support structures according to the criterion of minimum rigidity in accordance with the boundary conditions of the cutting forces when processing the selected product range.