Piezo-hydraulic micropositioning system to aid in setup for large components

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Berend Denkena
• Subject Area: Metal-Cutting and Abrasive Manufacturing Engineering
• Term: from 2014 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 246721852

In the preceding research project a piezo-hydraulic micropositioning system for large loads has been developed and investigated. High voltage piezoceramic actuators were used to realize the function of a piston pump and fast-switching valves. Due to the design and simulative analysis of different concepts a system variant for the prototypical realization of the micro-positioning system was identified. The high accuracy of the adjusting movement was ensured by the investigation of the open-loop control and the development of a closed-loop control strategy. The micropositioning system was integrated in an active fixing plate for experimental investigations. Thereby the ability for high-precision positioning of heavy loads up to 314 kg in one degree of freedom could be established. The studies provide fundamental insights into performance potential, performance limits and design criteria of a piezo-hydraulic micropositioning system for a usage within a machine tool.In the proposed knowledge transfer project, the insights should be translated into industrial practice with a practical application scenario. The aim is to develop a prototypical positioning system which will be capable to compensate remaining wobble errors after the setup of large workpieces for the profile grinding process. Therefor the functional extension of the system to a system with two degrees of freedom is required. A concept for the realization will be selected. In addition, the required optimized positioning cylinders will be developed and design modifications of the piezo-hydraulic pump will be executed. Furthermore, to operate the piezo-hydraulic pump an application of low voltage actuators and the implementation of adapted control parameters will be investigated. In the final stages of the project a developed and investigated prototype of the micropositioning system will be used under industrial conditions for validation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants (Transfer Project)
• Participating Institution: Römheld GmbH Friedrichshütte; Siemens AG