A Fast and Accurate Frequency Tracking Method for Ultrasonic Cutting System via the Synergetic Control of Phase and...

Ultrasonic cutting is a superior machining process for brittle materials, owing to its capability to reduce the cutting force and improve the surface quality. To avoid the destructive instability of ultrasonic vibration induced by the cutting force, the excitation frequency of the ultrasonic system must reliably track its resonance frequency. However, it remains challenging for the conventional frequency tracking methods via one parameter to simultaneously achieve both high response rate and high tracking accuracy. This study proposes that more than one parameter could be coupled to get advantages from each parameter. A frequency tracking method via the synergetic control of circuit phase and current of the ultrasonic system was proposed as an example. This method utilizes the phase to responsively determine the tracking direction and uses the characteristic current as the endpoint frequency to ensure accuracy. Theoretical analyses and numerical simulations were conducted to demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately track the frequency of maximum vibration amplitude with a higher response rate than conventional methods. Moreover, ultrasonic cutting tests were performed on Nomex composites to evaluate the machining performance of the ultrasonic system with the proposed method. The experimental results verify that the proposed frequency tracking method enables the ultrasonic system to reach a stable state with a shorter response time, which is beneficial for the reduction of cutting-induced defects.