The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new method to carry out the design optimization of the tool head system in the heavy‐duty machine tool where closed hydrostatic guideways with multiple pockets are employed.
A more accurate method of pressure calculation for closed hydrostatic guideways is introduced. Then, a multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) model is formulated for design of a tool head system, which minimizes the highest pocket pressure under some constraints from machining accuracy and vibration resistance requirements as well as constraints from ballscrew design specifications. Finally, a metamodel‐based design space alternation (DSA) strategy is proposed to solve the optimization problem.
The results show that the maximum pocket pressure in a tool head system can be reduced over 47 percent with a proper design while all the constraints are satisfied. As a consequence, the tool head system can safely work under the maximum output pressure of oil supply system.
This paper introduces a more accurate method of pressure calculation for multi‐pocket closed hydrostatic guideways, develops a metamodel‐based MDO model for the tool head system, and proposes a DSA strategy to solve the MDO problem.
