Evaluation of the energy consumption in machine tool: a combined analytical-experimental approach

Energy consumption can be used as an additional performance index to compare alternative production systems, evaluate different process planning and machining strategies, thus it is important to be able to estimate it. The goal can be achieved coupling machine tool components energetic models to a part-program kinematic simulator and, if needed, to a production plant simulator. In this paper both energetic models and the linked experimental procedure to update them are proposed. The model characterization procedures can be adopted in industrial contexts. The focus is put on machine cooling systems that absorb a high percentage of the overall machine electrical energy. Moreover, a refinement in the axis energy consumption estimation considering the limited jerk used during trajectory generation is also presented. The adequacy of the proposed models was checked by experimentation.