An Optimized Design of the Bearing in Machines for Ultrasonic Machining Processes

In high-power ultrasonic manufacturing processes, the design of the bearing of the components transmitting ultrasound is of particular importance, since the position of the nodal planes in the vibrating structure is altering as a consequence of changing coupling conditions during the process. A special bearing, which reduces the residual vibrations at the fixing ring by a system of several resonators, has been developed for the use in ultrasonic production processes, such as tube drawing and wire drawing but also drilling and welding. Since the transmitted longitudinal vibrations always involve radial components as well, the dynamic stiffness of the coupling on the interface between the components transferring energy and the components deleting vibration is very important. In the method described in this paper, an optimization of dynamic behavior is attained by stiffness-reduced coupling.