Dynamic modeling and analysis for gantry-type machine tools considering the effect of axis coupling force on the slider-guide joints' stiffness

As for the gantry-type machine tools, the forces of the slide blocks supporting the beam are different for different saddle locations, which would further affect the stiffness of the slider-guide joints and the dynamic characteristics of the whole machine tools. Therefore, the beam kinematic joints (the slider-guide joints) on the gantry-type machine tools are crucial for the dynamics prediction of traveling bridge systems. In this article, considering the effect of axis coupling force on the slider-guide joints' stiffness, an equivalent dynamic model of traveling bridge systems for the gantry-type machine tools is established using hybrid element method. The additional load variation in the four slider blocks is analyzed for different locations of the saddle, and the variation in the slider-guide joints' stiffness and traveling bridge system natural frequency are also studied. Finally, validation experiments are conducted on the traveling bridge systems of the gantry-type milling machine tools, and the results show that the dynamic modeling proposed in this article can reach a higher accuracy.