Lightweight components for energy-efficient machine tools

The increasing demand for machine tools and production systems to be more energy-efficient poses new challenges for machine developers. The paper discusses the general influence of lightweight design approaches on energy efficiency in machine tools and restrictions on the maximum mass reduction for structural components. As a central aspect different quantitative consequences of energy consumption aspects regarding lightweight design are discussed in detail, considering direct and indirect effects of mass reduction on the energy efficiency. Conclusive investigations of the theoretical aspects are realized by an example component for different lightweight design approaches.