Seals Based on Magnetic Fluids for High Precision Spindles of Machine Tools

Harkaitz Urreta (1) , Gorka Aguirre (1) , Pavel Kuzhir (2) , Luis Norberto López de Lacalle (3)

1 IK4-Ideko
2 INPHYNI - Institut de Physique de Nice
3 UPV / EHU - University of the Basque Country = Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

The research work reported in this paper is focused on the use of magnetic fluids as 11 active elements in seals for improving sealing capacity and minimizing friction torque, 12 with application to the spindles of high precision machine tools. The prototype design 13 was optimized following numerical computation of the magnetic field in the rings of the 14 seal. Two magnetic fluids were analysed for their use in the seals: a ferrofluid and 15 magnetorheological fluid. The sealing capacity of the MRF based seals was higher than 16 45kPa per ring, but the friction of the seal in the bearing was 8 N·m, too large for the 17 use in precision spindles of machine tools. The ferrofluid seal achieved sealing capacity 18 around 9kPa per ring, good enough to be used in the spindles of machine tools, with a 19 friction 0.25 N·m. The feasibility of using ferrofluids for developing high performance 20 seals for high precision spindles and the validity of the simulation models has been 21 demonstrated experimentally. 22 Keywords 23 Magnetic fluids, ferrofluids, magnetorheological fluids, magnetic fluid sealing, 24 machine tool spindle. 25

Domaines: Vibrations [physics.class-ph]

Harkaitz Urreta, Gorka Aguirre, Pavel Kuzhir, Luis Norberto López de Lacalle. Seals Based on Magnetic Fluids for High Precision Spindles of Machine Tools. International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing, 2018, 19 (4), pp.495-503. ⟨hal-01970786⟩