Monitoring lathe tool’s wear condition by acoustic emission technology

Abstract

Manufacturing of mechanical components with a large lot size is usually an automated process. The knowledge of the in situ condition of the tool can help to tailor its exchange cycles in order to reduce costs by using it to its full capacity, without compromising workpiece quality. We aim to monitor the condition of a lathe’s tool cutting tip by use of acoustic emission (AE) technology in order to increase its service life. Unlike previous research approaches that verified the potential of AE to monitor tool wear, we concentrate on identifying and overcoming application challenges of automated tool wear control that impede a broad and economic use of tool condition monitoring (TCM) in industry.