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Defense Date
2005
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
Manufacturers around the world are increasingly challenged to make components that are becoming smaller, more precise, more complex, and comprised of many more features. When manufactured components require precision, when they are very complex, or when they have multiple features, especially three dimensional features, manufacturers must often resort to machining. Machining smaller parts, however, can be particularly challenging. In this thesis, the issues associated with machining small parts are examined and a brief overview of the equipment available to machine small parts is considered. A machine tool design is developed which addresses many of the limitations associated with the Swiss-type screw machine. The proposed design is then "virtually prototyped" as a solid model in SolidWorksTM, machining forces are calculated, and the effects of the machining forces on the machine tool design are analyzed utilizing COSMOSWORKSTM FEA software and standard industrial formulas for calculating machine tool component service lives and safety factors. Values for all of the design metrics as well as all of the component service lives were found to meet or exceed their target values, thus the machine tool, if manufactured, is expected to perform robustly and to function as desired.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
June 2008
VCU Only:
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Comments
Part of Retrospective ETD Collection, restricted to VCU only.