Methodology for Design and Selection of Components of 3-Axis CNC Granite Carving Machine Tool

Abstract

This thesis report is an endeavour towards developing a methodology for the design and selection of standard and non-standard components for CNC machine tool structure for ornamental carving operations on granite stone. The ornamental carving was previously a craftsmen job but with the passage of time CNC machines replaced them. These machines are capable of producing much high products within quite less span of time. The objective of this study was to develop a methodology for design and selection of CNC machine tool components. This whole work is basically categorised as a 3 step process. Firstly the empirical relationships in which a methodology was developed for the design and selection of standard components for machine tool. Thus the standard components such as ball screw, round guideways and linear motors were selected from some standard manufacturers. The details of this chapter are explained in the 3rd chapter. Secondly the work is done for the design of supporting non-standard elements. The term support element refers to those non-standard components which were designed exclusively for this particular machine tool structure, with the purpose of supporting and providing stiffness to the standard components such as the bracket was designed for supporting the spindle motor. Other such components are the double c-sectioned channel for supporting the Y axis sub-assembly. Then in the third step, all the components designed and selected were analyzed for stability and stiffness under the application of static and dynamic forces with the help of ANSYS 10 (FEM tool).The results of this step are explained in the 4rd chapter of the report. Finally a conclusion and the future scope of the work have been discussed.