Simulation-based solid carbide end mill design and geometry optimization

Designing a high-performance solid carbide end mill is difficult due to the complex relationship between end mill geometry and numerous or conflicting design goals. Earlier approaches of computer-aided solid end mill design are limited to only a few design aspects. This article presents a three-dimensional finite element method of milling process for solid carbide end mill design and optimization. The software was secondarily developed based on UG platform, integrating the parametric design with the development of the two-dimension drawing of solid carbide end mill. The three-dimension finite element simulation for milling Ti-6Al-4V alloy was performed and the geometrical parameters were optimized based on the objective of low cutting force and cutting temperature. As a result, a simulation-based design and optimization of geometrical parameters of tool structure and cutting edge is possible. The optimized results, for the geometrical parameters of tool structure and cutting edge when milling titanium alloy using a 20-mm diameter solid carbide end mill, is a 12-mm diameter of inner circle, four flutes, a 45 ° helix angle, and a 9 ° rake angle of the side cutting edge.     

Tool wear and hole quality investigation in dry helical milling of Ti-6Al-4V alloy

This paper focused on combined study on the evolution of tool wear and its influence on borehole quality in dry helical milling of Ti-6Al-4V. The carbide tools with TiAlN coating were used in this experimental investigation. The tool wear characteristics both at front and periphery cutting edges were investigated using an optical microscope and SEM-EDS techniques. The experimental results demonstrate that the combined effects of chipping/fracture, diffusion, and oxidation have significant bearings on front cutting edge failure, while the flank wear was predominant at the periphery cutting edges. The cutting speed was correlated with tool failure mechanizes, and the different wear rates at front and periphery cutting edge caused different variation trends of cutting force in thrust and horizontal direction during hole-making process. The quality of machined holes was evaluated in terms of geometry accuracy, burr formation, and surface roughness. The exit-burrs of machined hole were closely correlated with front cutting edge wear. However, high hole quality was observed even the near end of tool life from the point of view of diameters, roundness error, and surface finish due to the smooth wear pattern at periphery cutting edges. Severe tool wear at front cutting edges will cause excessive exit-burrs, but it has no obvious effect on geometry and surface roughness in helical milling of Ti-6Al-4V.     

CFRP及叠层结构螺旋铣孔专用刀具切削性能评价

碳纤维增强复合材料(CFRP)及由钛合金Ti-6Al-4V和CFRP组成的金属复合材料叠层结构广泛应用于现代航空工业。大型客机结构件之间主要通过铆接和高锁螺栓连接,根据波音与空客公司发布的数据显示,最新一代B787与A380上装配孔的数量已超百万,装配过程中的制孔效率与质量直接决定了客机整体装配效率及关键结构件的疲劳寿命,从而间接影响了客机的生产成本以及飞行可靠性。随着飞机数字化装配的快速发展,传统的钻孔工艺会产生很多加工缺陷,工序复杂,加工孔质量不能满足要求,因此,有必要优化制孔工艺,设计新型专用刀具。本文通过研究螺旋铣孔运动学特性,分析螺旋铣孔的工艺特点,设计了一种新型螺旋铣孔专用刀具,并以加工过程的轴向切削力、出入口加工质量以及刀具磨损为评价指标,验证该新型专用刀具的切削性能。结果表明,专用刀具在干切削条件下能够实现复材孔无分层、钛合金孔无毛刺加工,大幅提高刀具寿命,解决了传统立铣刀对CFRP及CFRP/钛合金叠层结构进行螺旋铣孔时刀具寿命低、加工质量差等问题。     

斜圆柱结构的新型微细球端铣刀的设计与制造

针对微细切削刀具的特点与应用需求,设计一种斜圆柱结构的新型微细球端铣刀,将铣刀球端刀刃复杂的空间曲线转化为易加工的平面曲线。根据所设计铣刀的几何结构特征,从制造工艺方面进行刀具结构的调整,分析刀具的刃磨成形原理,并在微细刀具数控刃磨机上完成该刀具的制作。通过与传统螺旋槽球端铣刀和椭圆柱刃型球端铣刀的切削性能对比试验,研究所设计刀具的切削性能。试验结果表明,所设计的微细球端立铣刀在显著降低刀具制备难度的同时,具有较高的切削刃强度,能够满足硬脆性材料的微细切削要求。     

Investigation on diffusion wear during high-speed machining Ti-6Al-4V alloy with straight tungsten carbide tools

During high-speed machining Ti-6Al-4V alloy, high-temperature at the tool–chip interface and the concentration gradient of chemical species between tool material and workpiece material support the activation of diffusion process, and therefore the crater wear forms on the rake surface of the cutting tool at a short distance from the cutting edge. In this paper, the diffusion analysis was theoretically proposed. The constituent diffusion at the contact interface between tool material and Ti-6Al-4V alloy at high-temperature environment, the crater wear on the rake surface of the tool, and the chips collected from high-speed milling Ti-6Al-4V alloy with straight tungsten carbide tools were analyzed by the scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The constituents inside the tool could diffuse into the workpiece and the diffusion layer was very thin and close to the interface. Compared with the diffusion of tungsten and carbon atoms, the pulling out and removing of the tungsten carbide (WC) particles due to cobalt diffusion dominated the crater wear mechanism on the rake surface of the cutting tool.     

钛合金TC4的钻削力试验研究

钛合金TCA属于较难加工材料,其小孔钻削尤为困难。为得到钻头直径、钻削参数（进给量、切削速度）和刀具材料对钻削力的影响规律,采用标准高速钢钻头对TCA与45钢进行了钻削对比试验,并用多元线性回归分析模型分别建立了扭矩和轴向力的经验公式。结果表明,TC4的钻削力比45钢大,钻削参数对钻削力的影响规律与45钢基本相同,即钻头直径对扭矩和轴向力影响最大,进给量次之,切削速度的影响最小。     

HIGH THROUGHPUT DRILLING OF TITANIUM ALLOYS

The experiments of high throughput drilling of Ti-6Al-4V at 183 m/min cutting speed and 156 mm3/s material removal rate using a 4 mm diameter WC-Co spiral point drill are conducted. At this material removal rate, it took only 0.57 s to drill a hole in a 6.35 mm thick Ti plate. Supplying the cutting fluid via through-the-drill holes and the balance of cutting speed and feed have proven to be critical for drill life. An inverse heat transfer model is developed to predict the heat flux and the drill temperature distribution in drilling. A three-dimensional finite element modeling of drilling is con-ducted to predict the thrust force and torque. Experimental result demonstrates that, using proper machining process parameters, tool geometry, and fine-grained WC-Co tool material, the high throughput machining of Ti alloy is technically feasible.     

不同摩擦副条件下Ti-6Al-4V合金的微磨粒磨损行为

采用TE66微磨粒磨损实验机对医用Ti-6Al-4V钛合金在不同摩擦副条件下的微磨粒磨损行为进行研究,考察滑行距离、载荷对其微磨粒磨损的影响,通过观察磨斑形貌,分析其磨损机制。研究结果表明:Ti-6Al-4V合金的磨损量随滑移距离和载荷增加而增加,磨损率则相反,并且硬度较高的Si3N4陶瓷球对合金造成的磨损量和磨损率均低于ZrO2陶瓷球;在不同摩擦副条件下,随着滑行距离和载荷的增加,Ti-6Al-4V合金的磨损机制均由三体磨损转变为二三体混合磨损,所不同的是与Si3N4陶瓷球对摩时合金的混合磨损区域要少于与ZrO2陶瓷球对摩时。     

Design and experimental study of an end effector for robotic drilling

This paper presents the development of a drill end effector for use on industrial robots. The end effector has low weight and high rigidity. The drill end effector is fully programmable and will realize different drilling mode. The real-time force feedback can detect dull or broken bits, drill to breakthrough, and plot thrust force while drilling. Additionally, the end effector can also be equipped with a coolant/lubricant device. Based on the drill end effector, an experimental study on dry drilling of Ti-6Al-4V alloy and 7075-T6 alloy bimetal stacks was performed by using an uncoated cemented carbide drill. The hole quality (hole size, surface roughness) and thrust force were evaluated at various spindle speeds, feed rates, stacking sequence, and clamp force. This study indicates that the spindle speed and feed rate have an effect on the hole quality and thrust force by means of changing the temperature and plastic deformation of cutting zone. The results show that drilling 7075-T6 alloy firstly would be most efficient because of the high hole quality and the low thrust force. It was also found that high clamp force is helpful to improve the hole quality.     

Surface topography and roughness in hole-making by helical milling

Helical milling is used to generate holes with a cutting tool traveling on a helical path into the workpiece in which the diameter of the hole can be adjusted through that of the helical path. Based on an improved Z-map model, a 3D surface topography simulation model is established to simulate the surface finish profile generated after a helical milling operation using a cylindrical end mill. The surface topography simulation model incorporates the effects of the relative motion between the cutting tool and the workpiece, in which the effect of the insert runout error of the cutting tool is considered. Furthermore, the roughness parameters are deduced from simulations of the 3D surface topography. The experimental result shows that the proposed simulation algorithm can predict well the surface roughness in a helical milling operation. The surface topography simulation model is used to study the effects of cutting conditions such as the tangential feedrate, the diameter of the cutting tool and the hole, the insert runout error of the cutting tool, as well as the revolution of the cutting tool around the axis of the hole on the surface finish profile. It is found that the surface quality can be improved by optimization of the cutting conditions. As a result, the proposed model will be helpful in determining the cutting conditions to meet surface finish requirements in helical milling operation.     

The Tribological Behavior of a Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb Alloy Under Liquid Paraffine Lubrication

The tribological behavior of a Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy prepared by hot-pressed sintering was investigated under liquid paraffine lubrication against AISI 52100 steel ball in ambient environment and at varying loads and sliding speeds. For comparison, the tribological behavior of a common Ti-6Al-4V alloy was also examined under the same testing conditions. The worn surfaces of the two alloys were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. The friction coefficient of the Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy in the range of 0.13–0.18 was significantly lower than that of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy (0.4–0.5), but comparable to that under dry sliding, which indicated that TiAl intermetallics could be more effectively lubricated by liquid paraffine than titanium alloys. Applied load and sliding speed have little effect on the friction coefficient of the Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy. The wear rate of the Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy was about 45–120 times lower than that of Ti-6Al-4V alloy owing to Ti-6Al-4V alloy could not be lubricated effectively. The wear rate of the Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy increased with increasing applied load, but decreased slightly at first and then increased with increasing sliding speed. The wear mechanism of the Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb intermetallics under liquid paraffine lubrication was dominated by main plowing and slight flaking-off, but that of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy was plastic deformation and severe delamination.     

螺旋铣孔技术的原理及其应用

螺旋铣孔技术相对于传统钻孔技术具有很大的优势,在航空制造业中得到了应用。本文在对比了传统钻孔与螺旋铣孔特点的基础上,分析了螺旋铣孔的切削过程与切屑形成机理,并在钛合金的孔加工中得到验证。试验结果表明,螺旋铣孔加工钛合金时,切向力与法向力随着每齿轴向进给量的增加而增大,随着每齿切向进给量的增加而减小;由于不同的切屑流向而形成2种不同的切屑,并与切屑形成的机理相吻合。     

Prediction of heat transfer process in helical milling

This paper represented a three-dimensional heat transfer model which describes the temperature distribution with the time variation in solid with conduction-convection boundary during the helical milling process. On the basis of the kinematic mechanisms of helical milling, two types of heat sources were presented; one was the first heat source (FTHS) resulting from the peripheral cutting edge, and the other one was the second heat source (STHS) resulting from the bottom cutting edge. Both effects of the FTHS and the STHS on the temperature distribution of the workpiece were investigated. The FTHS was defined as one semicircle which acted on a helical path; the STHS was defined as one straight line and the movements of which consisted of three ways: rotating around the axis of the tool, turning around the center of the hole, and moving along the axial direction. In order to accurately study the heat transfer model, a stationary coordinate established in the hole and a moving coordinate established in the heat source were developed. The transformation of coordinates and the trajectory of the moving coordinate had been illustrated. Under the two coordinates, a nonhomogeneous partial differential equation (PDE) containing heat source term was derived and was solved using the Green function approach. The heat source term was depicted using the Dirac delta function. A series of experimental tails for Ti-6Al-4V were organized. The experimental results agreed well with the data calculated using the model. The effects of different cutting parameters on the temperature rise were also investigated.     

A study of the cutting-induced heating effect on the machined surface in ultra-precision raster milling of 6061 Al alloy

Ti-6Al-4V alloy is an attractive material in many industries due to its unique and excellent combination of strength to weight ratio and their resistance to corrosion. However, because of its low thermal conductivity and high chemical reactivity, Ti-6Al-4V alloy is generally classified as a difficult-to-cut material that can be characterized by low productivity and rapid tool wear rate even at conventional cutting speeds. It is well known that tool wear has a strong relationship with the cutting forces and a sound knowledge about correlation between cutting forces variation and tool wear propagation is vital to monitor and optimize the automatic manufacturing process. In the present study, high-speed end-milling of Ti-6Al-4V alloy with uncoated cemented tungsten carbide tools under dry cutting conditions is experimentally investigated. The main objective of this work is to analyze the tool wear and the cutting forces variation during high-speed end-milling Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The experimental results show that the major tool wear mechanisms in high-speed end-milling Ti-6Al-4V alloy with uncoated cemented tungsten carbide tools are adhesion and diffusion at the crater wear along with adhesion and abrasion at the flank wear. The cutting force component in the negative y-direction is more dominant of the three components and displays significantly higher magnitudes than that of the other two components in x- and z-directions. The variation of cutting force component F _y has a positive correlation with the tool wear propagation, which can be used as a tool wear indicator during automatic manufacturing process.     

A mathematical model for designing reconfigurable cellular hybrid manufacturing-remanufacturing systems

The process chain of product regeneration includes the removal of excess weld material, which is called re-contouring. Like all machining processes, re-contouring influences the surface integrity and therefore the functional performance of the regenerated parts. One important aspect of surface integrity is the surface topography, especially for blades in turbine engines due to the flow losses. This paper investigates the fundamental influence of cutting conditions, tool geometry and weld shape on the surface topography after 5-axis ball nose end milling of welded Ti-6Al-4V parts. It is shown by experiment and simulation that apart from the cutting parameters also the chipping of the cutting edge and the tool runout highly influence the surface topography. The size of the weld and the tool compliance primarily influence the tool deflection and the appearance of chatter vibrations.     

钛合金大直径孔螺旋铣削工艺优化研究

本文基于螺旋铣孔技术,采用正交试验和极差值分析方法,在钛合金上进行了19.05mm直径孔的螺旋铣削试验。分析了不同切削参数对轴向切削力、钛合金孔径、粗糙度等的影响,以此为指标优化出最佳工艺参数。在此基础上研究了最佳参数下切削力、加工质量和刀具磨损随加工孔数的变化,发现在大直径孔加工中,螺旋铣孔技术可有效改善加工质量、提高加工效率。     

Blend of sharpness and strength on a ball nose endmill geometry for high speed machining of Ti6Al4V

The applications of titanium alloys are increasingly common at marine, aerospace, bio-medical and precision engineering due to its high strength to weight ratio and high temperature-withstanding properties. However, whilst machining the titanium alloys using the solid carbide tools, even with application of high pressure coolant, reduced tool life was widely reported. The generation of high temperatures at the tool–work interface causes adhesion of work material on the cutting edges, and hence, shorter tool life was reported. In order to reduce the high tool–work interface temperature-positive rake angle, higher primary relief and higher secondary relief were configured on the ball nose endmill cutting edges. Despite of careful consideration of tool geometry, after an initial working period, the growth of flank wear accelerates the high cutting forces followed by work material adhesion on the cutting edges. Hence, it is important to blend the strength, sharpness, geometry and surface integrity on the cutting edges so that the ball nose endmill would exhibit an extended tool life. This paper illustrates the effect of ball nose endmill geometry on high speed machining of Ti6Al4V. Three different ball nose endmill geometries were configured, and high speed machining experiments were conducted to study the influence of cutting tool geometry on the metal cutting mechanism of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The high speed machining results predominantly emphasize the significance of cutting edge features such as K-land, rake angle and cutting edge radius. The ball nose endmills featured with a short negative rake angle of value ?5° for 0.05～0.06 mm, i.e. K-land followed by positive rake angle of value 8°, has produced lower cutting forces signatures for Ti-6Al-4V alloy.     

Experimental studies and optimization of process parameters for burrs in dry drilling of stacked metal materials

In the drilling of stacked materials, burrs produced on both the surface layer and the interlayer have some undesirable characters with regard to assembly quality, and deburring is a time consuming and costly operation. This paper presented an experimental study on the dry drilling of Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy and 7075-T6 aluminum alloy stacked materials, which was performed by using uncoated cemented carbide drills. The burr size was evaluated at various spindle speeds, feed rates, stacking sequences, and clamp forces. After which, the burr morphology was observed and analyzed. Finally, a new multi-objective optimization algorithm, which was derived from the game theory, was used to select optimum process parameters to minimize burr size. The best process parameters recorded in this paper were at the spindle speed of 2,000?r/min, the feed rate of 0.075?mm/r, the pressure of 0.3?MPa, and the stacking sequence of the Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy on top of the 7075-T6 aluminum alloy.     

高速切削Ti6Al4V钛合金时切削温度的试验研究

应用硬质合金刀具对Ti6Al4V钛合金材料进行了高速车削和高速铣削试验,研究分析了干切削、空气射流及氮气射流条件下的切削温度变化情况。研究结果表明,氮气射流及空气射流条件下的切削温度明显低于干切削条件下的切削温度,而氮气射流条件下的钛合金高速切削温度则略低于空气射流条件下的切削温度。     

Assessment of the machinability of Ti-6Al-4V alloy using the wear map approach

The high strength to density ratio of titanium alloys coupled with excellent corrosion resistance even at elevated temperatures make them ideal for aerospace applications. Moreover, the biocompatibility of titanium also enables its widespread use in the biomedical and food processing industries. However, the difficulty in machining titanium and its alloys along with the high cost of its extraction from ore form presents a major economic constraint. In the context of machining economics, the wear map approach is very useful in identifying the most suitable machining parameters over a feedrate–cutting velocity plane. To date, wear maps have only been prepared for the machining of ferrous alloys. In this article, a review of the machinability of Ti-6Al-4V alloy is presented with emphasis on comparing the wear performance of various tool materials. In addition, a new wear map for Ti-6Al-4V alloy is presented based on unified turning tests using H13A grade carbide inserts. This wear map can be used as a guide in the selection of cutting variables that ensure the least tool wear rates. This article contrasts the occurrence of a safety zone in the case of machining steels to that of an avoidance zone for Ti-6Al-4V alloy.