Search Results (10)

Ultra-precision diamond milling is a crucial technology for machining precision components with complex-shaped surfaces and microstructure array surfaces. Machining process monitoring is a promising approach to improving machining quality. This paper proposes a spindle-integrated three-axis cutting force measurement method for ultra-precision diamond milling using force piezoelectric force sensors. A spindle-integrated force measurement mechanism utilizing four piezoelectric force sensors arranged symmetrically and diagonally for measuring three-axis cutting forces was designed. Calibration tests showed that the linearity of force detection in three directions was less than 2%. Tool-setting experiments based on force detection signals were conducted, demonstrating the capacity of precision tool-setting in the Z-direction with an accuracy of less than 100 nm. A Wiener filter was employed to eliminate measurement noise from vibration and inertial forces under spindle rotation. Ultra-precision milling experiments were carried out based on the designed spindle-integrated force measurement mechanism, and the measurement results demonstrated that the system could effectively detect cutting forces below 50 mN and exhibited good correlation with the measurement results of commercial standard dynamometers. This paper provides a promising and effective in-process force measurement technology for the ultra-precision milling process. Full article

This paper presents a numerical study of fluid–structure interaction (FSI) applied to wind turbines, combining computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element analysis (FEA). The study focuses on a 3D wind turbine blade inspired by the GE 1.5XLE model. The blade features a twisted geometry with S818, S825, and S826 aerodynamic profiles, and is made of an orthotropic composite material with variable thickness and an internal spar. The fluid domain is defined by two circular sections upstream and downstream, aligned along the Z-axis. Simulations are performed under a wind speed of 12 m/s and a rotational speed of −2.22 rad/s (Tip Speed Ratio (TSR) = 8), with air modeled as an incompressible fluid at ambient temperature. On the CFD side, a periodic and symmetric modeling approach is applied, reducing the fluid domain to one-third of the full configuration by simulating flow around a single blade and extrapolating results to the remaining ones. This method achieves a 47% reduction in computation time while maintaining high accuracy in aerodynamic results. On the FEA side, spar condensation is performed by creating a superelement using the substructuring method. This strategy reduces structural computation time by 45% while preserving reliable predictions of displacements, stresses, and natural frequencies. These results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed techniques for accurate and computationally efficient aeroelastic simulations. Full article

To address the limitations of existing fault diagnosis methods for excitation dry-type transformers, such as inadequate utilization of multi-axis vibration data, low recognition accuracy under complex operational conditions, and limited computational efficiency, this paper presents a lightweight fault diagnosis approach based on the fusion of multi-channel vibration signals and visual features. Initially, a multi-physics field coupling simulation model of the excitation dry-type transformer is developed. Vibration data collected from field-installed three-axis sensors are combined to generate typical fault samples, including normal operation, winding looseness, core looseness, and winding eccentricity. Due to the high dimensionality of vibration signals, the Symmetrized Dot Pattern (ISDP) method is extended to aggregate and map time- and frequency-domain information from the x-, y-, and z-axes into a two-dimensional feature map. To optimize the inter-class separability and intra-class consistency of the map, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is employed to adaptively adjust the angle gain factor (η) and time delay coefficient (t). Keypoint descriptors are then extracted from the map using the Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF (ORB) feature extraction operator, which improves computational efficiency while maintaining sensitivity to local details. Finally, an efficient fault classification model is constructed using an Adaptive Boosting Support Vector Machine (Adaboost-SVM) to achieve robust fault mode recognition across multiple operating conditions. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves a fault diagnosis accuracy of 94.00%, outperforming signal-to-image techniques such as Gramian Angular Field (GAF), Recurrence Plot (RP), and Markov Transition Field (MTF), as well as deep learning models based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) in both training and testing time. Additionally, the method exhibits superior stability and robustness in repeated trials. This approach is well-suited for online monitoring and rapid diagnosis in resource-constrained environments, offering significant engineering value in enhancing the operational safety and reliability of excitation dry-type transformers. Full article

The accurate perception of external environment information through the robot foot is crucial for the mobile robot to evaluate its ability to traverse terrain. Adequate foot-end contact signals can provide robust support for robot motion control and decision-making processes. The shape and uncertain rotation of the wheel-legged robot foot end represent a significant challenge to sensing the robot foot-end contact state, which current foot-end sensing schemes cannot solve. This paper presents a sensing method for the tire stress field of wheel-legged robots. A finite element analysis was conducted to study the deformation characteristics of the foot-end tire under force. Based on this analysis, a heuristic contact position estimator was designed that utilizes symmetrical deformation characteristics. Strain sensors, arranged in an array, extract the deformation information on the inner surface of the tire at a frequency of 200 Hz. The contact position estimator reduces the dimensionality of the data and fits the eigenvalues to the estimated contact position. Using support vector regression, the force estimator utilizes the estimated contact position and sensor signal to estimate the normal reaction force, designated as F_Z. The sensing system is capable of detecting the contact position on the wheel circumference (with a root mean square error of 1.150°), as well as the normal force of 160 N on the Z axis (with a root mean square error of 6.04%). To validate the efficacy of the sensor detection method, a series of randomized and repeated experiments were conducted on a self-constructed test platform. This novel approach offers a promising avenue for perceiving contact states in wheel-legged robots. Full article

This study investigates the influence of high-order twisting phases on polarization states and optical angular momentum of a vector light field with locally linear polarization and a hybrid state of polarization (SoP). The twisted vector optical field (TVOF) is experimentally generated based on the orthogonal polarization bases with high-order twisting phases. The initial SoP of a TVOF modulated by the high-order twisting phase possesses various symmetric distributions. The propagation properties of a high-order TVOF with locally linear polarization and hybrid SoP are explored, including the intensity compression, expansion, and conversion between the linear and circular polarization components. In particular, orbital angular momentum (OAM) appears in a high-order TVOF during propagation where no OAM exists in the initial field. The variation of OAM distribution in cross-section becomes more frequent with the increase of the twisting phase order. In addition, a non-symmetric OAM distribution appears in a non-isotropic TVOF, leading to the rotation of the beam around the propagation axis during propagation. The optical energy flow distribution of a high-order TVOF provides a more profound understanding of the propagation dynamics of high-order TVOF. These results provide a new approach for optical field manipulation in a high-order TVOF. Full article

Sapphire is a robust and wear-resistant material. However, efficient and high-quality micromachining is still a challenge. This contribution demonstrates and discusses two novels, previously unreported approaches for femtosecond laser-based micromachining of rotational-symmetric sapphire workpieces, whereas both methods are in principal hybrids of laser scanning and laser turning or laser lathe. The first process, a combination of a sequential linear hatch pattern in parallel to the workpiece’s main axis with a defined incremental workpiece rotation, enables the fabrication of sapphire fibers with diameters of 50 μm over a length of 4.5 mm. Furthermore, sapphire specimens with a diameter of 25 μm over a length of 2 mm can be fabricated whereas an arithmetical mean height, i.e., S_a parameter, of 281 nm is achieved. The second process combines a constant workpiece feed and orthogonal scanning with incremental workpiece rotation. With this approach, workpiece length limitations of the first process are overcome and sapphire fibers with an average diameter of 90 µm over a length of 20 cm are manufactured. Again, the sapphire specimen exhibits a comparable surface roughness with an average S_a value of 249 nm over 20 cm. Based on the obtained results, the proposed manufacturing method paves an innovative and flexible, all laser-based way towards the fabrication or microstructuring of sapphire optical devices, and thus, a promising alternative to chemical processes. Full article

Functional methods usually allow for a flexible and accurate representation of joint kinematics and are increasingly implemented both for clinical and biomechanics research purposes. This paper presents a quantitative comparison between two widely adopted methods for functional axis estimation, that is, the helical axis theory and the symmetrical axis of rotation approach (SARA). To this purpose, a multi-body model was developed to simulate the lower limb of a subject. This model was designed to reproduce different motion patterns, that is, by selecting the active degrees of freedom of the simulated ankle joint. Thanks to virtual markers attached to each segment, the multi-body model was used to generate simulated motion capture data that were then analyzed by instantaneous helical axes and SARA algorithms. To achieve a synthetic representation of joint kinematics, a mean helical axis and an average SARA functional axis were estimated, along with dispersion parameters and rms distance data that were used to quantitatively assess the performance of each method. The sensitivity of each algorithm to different combinations of range and speed of motion, scattering of marker clusters, sampling rate, and additive noise on markers’ trajectories, was finally evaluated. Full article

The occurrence of vortices in the sac volume of automotive multi-hole fuel injectors plays an important role in the development of vortex cavitation, which directly influences the flow structure and emerging sprays that, in turn, influence the engine performance and emissions. In this study, the RANS-based turbulence modelling approach was used to predict the internal flow in a vertical axis-symmetrical multi-hole (6) diesel fuel injector under non-cavitating conditions. The project aimed to predict the aforementioned vortical structures accurately at two different needle lifts in order to form a correct opinion about their occurrence. The accuracy of the simulations was assessed by comparing the predicted mean axial velocity and RMS velocity of LDV measurements, which showed good agreement. The flow field analysis predicted a complex, 3D, vortical flow structure with the presence of different types of vortices in the sac volume and the nozzle hole. Two main types of vortex were detected: the “hole-to-hole” connecting vortex, and double “counter-rotating” vortices emerging from the needle wall and entering the injector hole facing it. Different flow patterns in the rotational direction of the “hole-to-hole” vortices have been observed at the low needle lift (anticlockwise) and full needle lift (clockwise), due to their different flow passages in the sac, causing a much higher momentum inflow at the lower lift with its much narrower flow passage. Full article

Based on the constraint and position identification (CPI) approach for synthesizing XYZ compliant parallel mechanisms (CPMs) and configuration modifications, this paper proposes a new fully-symmetrical XYZ CPM with desired motion characteristics such as reduced cross-axis coupling, minimized lost motion, and relatively small parasitic motion. The good motion characteristics arise from not only its symmetric configuration, but also the rigid linkages between non-adjacent rigid stages. Comprehensive kinematic analysis is carried out based on a series of finite element simulations over a motion range per axis less than ±5% of the beam length, which reveals that the maximum cross-axis coupling rate is less than 0.86%, the maximum lost motion rate is less than 1.20%, the parasitic rotations of the motion stage (MS) are in the order of 10⁻⁵ rad, and the parasitic translations of the three actuated stages (ASs) are in the order of 10⁻⁴ of the beam length (less than 0.3% of the motion range), where the beam slenderness ratio is larger than 20. Furthermore, the nonlinear analytical models of the primary translations of the XYZ CPM, including the primary translations of the MS and the ASs, are derived and validated to provide a quick design synthesis. Moreover, two practical design schemes of the proposed XYZ CPM are discussed with consideration of the manufacturability. The practical designs enable the XYZ CPM to be employed in many applications such as micro-/nano-positioning, micro-/nano-manufacturing and micro-/nano-assembly. Finally, a spatial high-precision translational system is presented based on the practical design schemes, taking the actuator and sensor integration into account. Full article

The absence of harmony and of flexibility of the tongue and mandible is generally associated with disharmony and lack of flexibility at the level of the head and neck. At the same time, the lack of harmony and of flexibility at these levels is, in general, associated with static and/or dynamic disharmony of the axis. In Portugese, "harmony" signifies "Ordered dispersion of each of the parts of the whole," and "dys" is a "prefix of negation." "Axis" comes from the Greek "axon" and refers to the actual or imagined longitudinal line that divides the human body in approximately symmetrical or balanced parts. It also designates a support or line on which an object supposedly or factually makes rotations. On the other hand, it signifies in its origin, the second cervical vertebra, but in this publication, it is not used in this sense. The author, having worked for twenty years with oromyofunctional problems, has observed in the clinic and in diagnostic sessions, that, in about 60% of the cases with oromyofunctional disharmony, there exists a parallel disharmony at the level of the axis. This article studies the evolution of the ontogenetic axis and phylogenetically points out certain coincidences that occur at about the age of 14 months, at which stage, for example, the spinal column acquires a fourth "curve of harmony" and begins its passage toward the mature patterns of swallowing and mastication. In addition to the theoretical assumptions, the article describes the technical approach to diagnostic procedures. Full article