Optimal design of a new parallel kinematic machine for large volume machining

Abstract

Although numerous PKM topologies have been invented recently, few of them have been successfully put into production. A good topology can only provide good performance unless its geometrical parameters are optimized. This paper studies the dimensional synthesis of a new PKM which has shown great potential for large volume high performance manufacturing. A new optimization approach is proposed for design optimization, with a new performance index composed of weight factors of both Global Conditioning Index (GCI) and actuator stroke. Maximizing GCI will ensure the effectiveness of the workspace, while minimizing actuator stroke leads to reduced machine cost and increased efficiency. Results show that the proposed optimization method is valid and effective. The PKM with optimized dimensions has a large workspace to footprint ratio and a large well-conditioned workspace, which ensures its suitability for large volume machining. © Springer-Verlag 2012.