Abstract

In the high-tech industry, the demands for performance tend to be stricter for each new generation of equipment. In order to obtain an acceptable position accuracy (often in the order of nanometres), a good isolation from the factory floor is desired. This is often realised by a compliant suspension of the machine, or at least, between the part of the machine that needs to be accurate and the outer world. Apart from this compliant suspension, often other links between the accurate machine part and the outer world exist. These can be links in the form of cables, hoses, and fibers. In order to ensure the required compliant coupling to the outer world, the compliance of these links should also be included in an early stage of the design process. Moreover, the dynamics of these links in the higher frequency ranges can also lead to undesired resonances. Therefore, accurate modelling is necessary for these kinds of links. In this study, finite element models have been generated for several kinds of links, such as hoses and cables. These links vary in shape (for example. L-shape or U shape), diameter, and material. In order to obtain accurate modelling results in all directions, the required stiffness matrix is evaluated between both clamped sides in 6 degrees of freedom. Using these models, the dynamic stiffness over a large frequency band has been simulated. Furthermore, experiments have been performed, in which the dynamic stiffness of such cables is measured. Using the experimental data, the models have been validated. The individual cable models can be used to model a cable assembly, where several cables in parallel are attached to a single connector on each side. These assemblies can then be used in a total machine model in order to analyse the dynamic behaviour of the complete system.