Abstract: With high speed machine tools, there is a desire to dampen vibrations and to retain the damper mass in proper position. The present invention relates to a tuned damped absorber support providing simultaneous energy dissipation in both horizontal and vertical directions which also provides for proper mass position retention. The tuned damped absorber assembly is attached directly or indirectly to a machine component requiring damping. Both single damper mass and double damper mass configurations are shown. With a double damper mass, the system can be tuned to two different frequencies. Therefore, the double damper mass provides for optimization in both a vertical and a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A high gain and high torsional stiffness servo axis drive system for machine tools is described as providing improved stability. This system includes a servo motor mounted on a base and connected to a C-Axis spindle drive arrangement via a toothed drive belt. A first damping means is attached to the spindle drive pulley and tuned for damping torsional oscillations of the servo output shaft, belt, and spindle when the system is not fitted with a workpiece. An independent second damper is attached to the driving pulley of the servo motor and tuned for damping torsional oscillations of the entire servo drive system when the system is loaded with a workpiece. The resulting servo axis drive system features improved stiffness and can be adapted to a variety of predetermined loading conditions by convenient retuning of the second damper. At least the second damper is provided as a combination of a damper mass ring attached to the servo motor pulley by a plurality of visoelastic damping elements.

Abstract: A high gain and high torsional stiffness servo axis drive system for machine tools is described as providing improved stability. This system includes a servo motor mounted on a base and connected to a C-Axis spindle drive arrangement via a toothed drive belt. A first by-damper is attached to the spindle drive pulley and tuned for damping torsional oscillations of the servo output shaft, belt, and spindle when the system is not fitted with a workpiece. An independent second damper is attached to the driving pulley of the servo motor and tuned for damping torsional oscillations of the entire servo drive system when the system is loaded with a workpiece. The resulting servo axis drive system features improved stiffness and can be adapted to a variety of predetermined loading conditions by convenient retuning of the second damper. At least the second damper is provided as a combination of a damper mass ring attached to the servo motor pulley by a plurality of viscoelastic damping elements.

Abstract: There is provided a rotator bearing shock and vibration dampener for the rotator bearing of a robotic manipulator, with such shock dampener including a stationary robot base and a rotary turntable, and a large rotary turntable bearing having its inner race bolted to the stationary base and its outer race bolted to the rotary turntable. An oil damp well space having a relatively thin, predetermined depth squared relative its surface area is formed in the base below the outer race and in the turntable above the inner race. A predetermined volume of damping oil is located adjacent the turntable bearing in the base and fills the oil damp well space, whereby the damping oil normally resides in the well space to provide an oil film therewithin.

Abstract: A work contact shoe floats in an elastomeric mount within a shoe holder, and the shoe holder is mounted by bracket means to a machine base. A preload mechanism is employed for forcing the work contact shoe into a slight preload against a workpiece so that as the workpiece is machined and vibrations are generated, the vibrations will be attenuated by shearing of the elastomer.