MEMS accelerometer-based system for inexpensive online CNC milling process chatter detection

In this paper a complete and inexpensive CNC milling chatter monitoring system is presented. By using a MEMS (Micro-Electro Mechanical System) accelerometer as a transducer mounted on the machine table, Arduino was used in a data acquisition platform and open source software to analyze the data in a completely functional chatter detection device. Initially the system was used to identify the main chatter frequency of a specific machine-tool/fixture/workpiece combination and, then, to detect its occurrence in an ongoing process.