Tool wear monitoring in drilling using force signals

Utilization of force signals to achieve on-line drill wear monitoring is presented in this paper. A series of experiments were conducted to study the effects of tool wear as well as other cutting parameters on the cutting force signals and to establish the relationship between force signals and tool wear as well as other cutting parameters when drilling copper alloy. These experiments involve four independent variables; spindle rotational speed ranging from 600 to 2400 rev min^?1, feed rate ranging from 60 to 200 mm min^?1, drill diameter ranging from 5 to 10 mm, and average flank wear ranging from 0.1 to 0.9 mm. A statistical analysis provided good correlation between average thrust and drill flank wear. The relationship between cutting force signals and cutting parameters as well as tool wear is then established. The relationship can then be used for on-line drill flank wear monitoring. Feasibility studies show that the use of force signal for on-line drill flank wear monitoring is feasible.