Noise-Sensitivity in Machine Tool Vibrations

We consider the effect of random variation in the material parameters in a model for machine tool vibrations, specifically regenerative chatter. We show that fluctuations in these parameters appear as both multiplicative and additive noise in the model. We focus on the effect of additive noise in amplifying small vibrations which appear in subcritical regimes. Coherence resonance is demonstrated through computations, and is proposed as a route for transitions to larger vibrations. The dynamics also exhibit scaling laws observed in the analysis of general stochastic delay differential models.