Adaptive tuned mass damper with variable mass for chatter avoidance

If the machine tool damping is not sufficient to reduce the vibration induced by machining, chatter can occur. This paper presents an innovative adaptive tuned mass damper (ATMD) with variable mass. The variation of the mass of the ATMD allows the adaption of its eigenfrequency to the dominant one of the machine tool, which is dependent on the axis position of the machine. The design of the ATMD and consequently its working range was optimized with a genetic algorithm. The functionality and performance of the ATMD were then validated under real cutting conditions on a machining centre.