Chatter suppression by parametric excitation: Model and experiments

Chatter vibration leads to challenges in precise machining due to its harmful effect on productivity and surface quality. In this study, a chatter suppression method based on parametric excitation was developed. The effect of parametric excitation on self-excited vibration was investigated based on a model of a van der Pol–Mathieu–Duffing oscillator with a time delay. It reveals that there can be a zero solution for the oscillator under the effect of parametric excitation, while it is impossible to have a stable zero equation without parametric excitation. The stability of a parametrically excited vibration system regarding the regenerative effect in the cutting processes was studied by the averaging method. The stability analysis shows that parametric excitation with an appropriate frequency and large amplitude has a chatter suppression effect no matter whether the waveform is a sinusoidal wave, square wave or triangular wave. To validate the effect of parametric excitation for chatter suppression, experiments were conducted based on a magnetorheological (MR) fluid-controlled boring bar, which can generate high-frequency parametric excitation based on the quick response of the MR fluid. Cutting experiments with an excitation current of different waveforms and diverse frequencies show that chatter can be significantly suppressed by the effect of parametric excitation.