A review on epoxy granite reinforced polymer composites in machine tool structures – Static, dynamic and thermal characteristics

Abstract Machine tool structures produced with Epoxy Granite reinforced polymer composites (EGPCs) have gained prominence in recent years and have replaced conventional cast iron materials and other metals due to its remarkable damping characteristics. However, machine tool structures manufactured with EGPCs tends to exhibit limited strength, stiffness and stability. Such challenges in EGPCs are resolved by incorporation of steel as additional reinforcement and enhanced mechanical properties are observed in these hybrid machine‐tool structures. Hybrid epoxy granite machine tool structures with enhanced mechanical performance are prone to thermal errors resulting in machining inaccuracies and limited performance. Thermal errors induced in machine tool structures could be attributed due to effect of temperature distribution and displacements at the Tool Center Point (TCP). This review work carried out focuses predominantly on design methods adopted in resolving the challenges identified in development of machine tool structures and further analyses results of several polymer concrete‐based machine tool structures with regard to static, dynamic and thermal characteristics. Several review works conducted earlier have discussed the results of static and dynamic characteristics, whereas this review work provides additional information on thermal based errors induced and discusses the methods adopted in compensation of thermal errors. In this review paper, research studies pertaining to static and dynamic characteristics of different machine tool structures performed in last three decades have been discussed and a wholistic information is provided in relation with static, dynamic and thermal characteristics and properties toward developing a machine tool structure with a novel, newer class or alternative materials.