Structural Bionic Design and Experimental Verification of a Machine Tool Column

Based on the configuration principles of biological skeletons and sandwich stems, a machine tool column with stiffening ribs inside was designed using structural bionic method. After the lightening effect was verified by finite element simulation, scale-down models of a conventional column and a bionic column were fabricated and tested. Results indicate that the bionic column can reduce the maximum static displacement by 45.9% with 6.13% mass reduction and its dynamic performances is also better with increases in the first two natural frequencies. The structural bionic design is effective in improving the static and dynamic structural performances of high speed machine tools.