How long has tap-testing been around?
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The earliest papers describing the mechanism causing chatter in machine tools date from around 1960. As an input, the computation needed (and still needs) the Frequency Response Function (FRF) of the structure.
In the early 1960’s, the measurement of the FRF of the machine tool structure was hard and time-consuming, generally requiring the use of shakers.
The enabling technology that led to impact testing and modal analysis derived from the Fourier Transform. The Fourier Transform is old – Fourier worked for Napolean (around 1800).
In the mid 1960’s the discrete version of the Fourier Transform (DFT) was first described, allowing the use of a digital computer to make the computation. Shortly after, in 1965, a way was described to quickly and efficiently make the calculation, and it was called the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The FFT is still used in the modern measurement.
In the mid 1960s, there was a lot of work on modal analysis and impact measurement of the FRF derives from the Structural Dynamics Research Laboratory at the University of Cincinnati.
Piezoelectric impact hammers with integrated amplifiers similar to the ones used today date from the mid-1970’s.
Even in to the mid 1980’s the equipment to make the measurement was very expensive and hard to use. It was mostly found in research laboratories and large corporate research centers.
Manufacturing Laboratories, Inc (MLI) began working in the 1980s to use PC platforms to make the technology more accessible. Additionally, the cost of computing power, memory, data acquisition, and instrumentation dramatically reduced. The MetalMax software on which MillMax is based and MillMax have both been made more user friendly by targeting milling performance improvement rather than general modal analysis.