Structural bionic design for high-speed machine tool working table based on distribution rules of leaf veins

High-speed machine tool working table restrains the machining accuracy and machining efficiency, so lightweight design of the table is an important issue. In nature, leaf has developed a plate structure that maximizes the surface-to-volume ratio. It can be seen as a plate structure stiffened by veins. Compared with a high-speed machine tool working table, leaf veins play a role of supporting part which is similar to that of stiffening ribs, and they can provide some new design ideas for lightweight design of the table. In this paper, distribution rules of leaf veins were investigated, and a structural bionic design for the table was achieved based on regulation of leaf veins. First, statistical analysis on geometric structure of leaf veins was carried out, and four distribution rules were obtained. Then, relevant mechanical models were developed and analyzed in finite element software. Based on the results from mechanical analysis on those relevant models, the four distribution rules were translated into the design rules and a structural bionic design for the working table was achieved. Both simulation and experimental verifications were carried out, and results showed that the average displacement of the working table was reduced by about 33.9%.