Machine Tool Energetic Simulation during General Milling Operations

Manufacturing processes have a high impact on global energy consumption. This paper describes a simulation and modeling approach that allows the estimation of machine tool energy consumption in general milling operations, indicating the contributions of the main machine sub-systems, supporting therefore the identification of possible "weak points". The model takes into account spindle, feed axes and auxiliary power consumption and can be fed by any workpiece geometry and part program. The implemented simulator is applied to a real industrial case and is used to estimate the energy required by the spindle during the execution of a work cycle.