The Modulation of Chatter Vibrations

Abstract

The results of several experimental investigations concerning the nature of machining chatter are discussed. They indicate that chatter vibrations are generally amplitude modulated and that the chatter frequency may or may not vary from the free vibrational frequency of the chattering component. Of the several results considered each is explained in terms of an extension of the empirically derived lag equation for the machining process of Doi and Kato whereby the characteristic frequencies of the lag equation are determined. The fact that the frequency related phenomena of several independent tests are confirmed by the lag equation, which was not derived from frequency considerations, seems to justify it as a valid mathematical model for the machining process.