A triaxial cutting force measurement utilizing an embedded transducer on a spindle rotating tool

This paper presents the development of an embedded force transducer for cutting force measurement in a milling process. A cross beam type transducer is selected as the sensitive element of the designed sensor system. By using strain gauges, this system is capable of measuring the triaxial cutting force in rotating coordinate-based, including the main cutting forces, F_c, thrust force, F_t, and perpendicular cutting force, F_cN. This sensor system is equipped with a wireless telemetry system to transfer the force signal to the data acquisition device. The sensor is experimentally investigated and calibrated. Transducer sensitivity, cross-talk and results of the machining signal are presented. As well as the cutting force measurement, this triaxial transducer could be used on milling and drilling operations.