MACHINABILITY OF NICKEL-BASED HIGH TEMPERATURE ALLOYS

Abstract

Nickel-based high temperature alloys have excellent physical properties, which make them ideal for use in the manufacture of aerospace components. However, they exhibit poor machinability. Though conventional machining in industries is currently being carried out using carbide tools, there is little scope for improving the material removal rate. Machining, being a major operation, needs to be improved in order to reduce the throughput time. High Speed Machining (HSM) is a promising technique for increasing productivity in this regard. This paper mostly reviews research and development work in the machining of nickel-based high temperature alloys carried out over the last 15 years with the objective of assessing the present scenario. Emphasis is laid on Inconel 718, which is most commonly used. Both turning and milling operations using conventional and High Speed (HS) machining are reviewed herein. HSM is discussed at length in comparison with conventional machining, as it is possible to drastically improve material removal rate using HSM. In addition to the study of insert materials and tool geometry, other aspects affecting HSM are also discussed. Surface integrity of Inconel 718 obtained through HSM and the recently developed technique of Plasma Enhanced Machining (PEM) is also addressed.     

高速加工中心及其应用

加工中心是数控技术进一步发展的产物,是现代车间柔性化生产的基本单元,不但要求它具有很高的生产效率,而且要提高零件的加工精度。本文在简要分析高速加工技术的发展情况后,论述了超高速加工中心的两项关键技术“高速电主轴”和“直线电机高速进给单元”,介绍了高速加工技术的应用和发展前景。     

数控机床高速化的研究与应用

高速加工是继数控技术之后使制造技术产生第二次革命性飞跃的一项高新技术,它不但具有极高的生产效率,而且可显著提高零件的加工精度和表面质量,在简要分析高速加工的发展情况后,论述了超调整加工中心的两项关键技术-高速电主轴和直线电机高速进给单元,介绍了高速加工技术的应用和发展前景。     

高速加工技术在连杆模具制造中的应用

针对传统模具制造工艺的不足，提出使用高速加工（HSM）技术来制造型腔模具，可以缩短加工时间，提高模具精度，改善表面质量。     

构建基于Web的高速切削查询系统设计

高速切削(High Speed Machining,HSM)是一项先进制造技术.国内在该加工领域的研究起步晚,相关参考资料也难觅踪影.亟待相关查询系统的设计与实现,因此,拟构建基于Web的查询系统.     

基于STEP-NC的高速加工数控编程

高速加工技术是近年来发展起来的一种集高效、优质和低耗于一身的先进制造技术，其中高速加工数控编程是高速加工技术中极为重要和非常复杂的技术。笔者在分析了传统数控编程接口局限性的基础上，提出基于新型数控编程接口STEP—NC的高速加工数控编程方法。分析和阐述了STEP—NC用于高速加工数控编程的主要特点，并给出了具体的加工实例。     

Investigation of surface integrity in dry machining of Inconel 718

Machining of advanced aerospace materials have grown in the recent years although the diffucult-to-machine characteristics of alloys like titanium or nickel-based alloys cause higher cutting forces, rapid tool wear, and more heat generation. Therefore, machining with the use of cooling lubricants is usually carried out. To reduce the production costs and to make the processes environmentally safe, the goal is to move toward dry cutting by eliminating cutting fluids. This objective can be achieved by using coated tool, by increasing cutting speed, and by improving the product performance in term of surface integrity and product quality. The paper addresses the effects of cutting speed and feed on the surface integrity during dry machining of Inconel 718 alloy using coated tools. In particular, the influence of the cutting conditions on surface roughness, affected layer, microhardness, grain size, and microstructural alteration was investigated. Results show that cutting conditions have a significant effect on the parameters related to the surface integrity of the product affecting its overall performance.     

Finish Machining of Nickel-Base Inconel 718 Alloy with Coated Carbide Tool under Conventional and High-Pressure Coolant Supplies

Single-point turning of Inconel 718 alloy with commercially available Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD)-coated carbide tools under conventional and high-pressure coolant supplies up to 20.3 MPa was carried out. Tool life, surface roughness (Ra), tool wear, and component forces were recorded and analyzed. The test results show that acceptable surface finish and improved tool life can be achieved when machining Inconel 718 with high coolant pressures. The highest improvement in tool life (349%) was achieved when machining with 11 MPa coolant supply pressure at higher speed conditions of 60 m · min^?1. Machining with coolant pressures in excess of 11 MPa at cutting speeds up to 40 m · min^?1 lowered tool life more than when machining under conventional coolant flow at a feed rate of 0.1 mm · rev^?1. This suggests that there is a critical coolant pressure under which the cutting tools performed better under high-pressure coolant supplies.

Cutting forces increased with increasing cutting speed due probably to reactive forces introduced by the high-pressure coolant jet. Tool wear/wear rate increased gradually with prolonged machining with high coolant pressures due to improved coolant access to the cutting interface, hence lowering cutting temperature. Nose wear was the dominant tool failure mode when machining with coated carbide tools due probably to a reduction in the chip-tool and tool-workpiece contact length/area.     

3D FINITE ELEMENT MODELLING OF CHIP FORMATION PROCESS FOR MACHINING INCONEL 718: COMPARISON OF FE SOFTWARE PREDICTIONS

Many efforts have been focused on the development of Finite Element (FE) machining models due to growing interest in solving practical machining problems in a computational environment in industry. Most of the current models are developed under 2D orthogonal plane strain assumptions, or make use of either arbitrary damage criterion or remeshing techniques for obtaining the chip. A complete understanding of the material removal process together with its effects on the machined parts and wear behaviour of the cutting tools requires accurate 3D computational models to analyze the entire physical phenomenon in materials undergoing large elastic-plastic deformations and large temperature changes as well as high strain rates. This work presents a comparison of 3D machining models developed using commercially available FE softwares ABAQUS/Explicit^© and DEFORM?3D Machining. The work material is chosen as Inconel 718, a difficult-to-cut nickel-based alloy material. Computational results of temperature, strain and stress distributions obtained from the FE models for the effect of cutting speed are presented in comparison with results obtained from experimental tests. In addition, modified material model for Inconel 718 with flow softening is compared with the Johnson-Cook model. The predictions of forces and chip formation are improved with the modified material model.     

Study of surface quality in high speed turning of Inconel 718 with uncoated and coated CBN tools

Inconel 718 is known to be among the most difficult-to-machine materials due to its special properties which cause the short tool life and severe surface damages. The properties, which are responsible for poor machinability, include rapid work hardening during machining; tendency to weld with the tool material at high temperature generated during machining; the tendency to form a built-up edge during machining; and the presence of hard carbides, such as titanium carbide and niobium carbide, in their microstructure. Conventional method of machining Inconel 718 with cemented carbide tool restricts the cutting speed to a maximum 30?m/min due to the lower hot hardness of carbide tool, high temperature strength and low thermal conductivity of Inconel 718. The introduction of new coated carbide tools has increased cutting speed to 100?m/min; nevertheless, the time required to machine this alloy is still considerably high. High speed machining using advanced tool material, such as CBN, is one possible alternative for improving the productivity of this material due to its higher hot hardness in comparison with carbide tool. This paper specifically deals with surface quality generated under high speed finishing turning conditions on age-hardened Inconel 718 with focus on surface roughness, metallographic analysis of surface layer and surface damages produced by machining. Both coated and uncoated CBN tools were used in the tests, and a comparison between surfaces generated by both tools was also discussed.     

Improving machinability of Inconel 718 with a new hybrid machining technique

In this paper, by joining three non-traditional machining methods — plasma-enhanced machining, cryogenic machining, and ultrasonic vibration assisted machining — a new hybrid machining technique for machining of Inconel 718 is presented. Cryogenic machining reduces the temperature in the cutting zone, and therefore decrease tool wear and increases tool life, while plasma-enhanced machining helps to increase the temperature in the workpiece to make it softer. Also, applying ultrasonic vibrations to the tool helps to improve cutting quality and to prolong tool life by lowering, mainly, the cutting force and improving the dynamic cutting stability. This study experimentally investigates the effect of cutting parameters on cutting performance in the machining of Inconel 718 and compares the results of hybrid machining and conventional machining (CM). It is found that the hybrid method results in better surface finish and improves tool life in hard cutting at low cutting speeds as compared to the CM method.     

高速加工与直线电机在数控机床的应用

高速加工和直线电机以其独特的优点在高速数控机床上得到越来越广泛的应用,本文简述了高速加工原理,直线电机原理,综合介绍了直线电机驱动技术在数控机床的应用。     

Cimatron软件的应用与研究

简要分析了Cimatron软件针对高速加工部分的功能特点，并进行了实验研究。实验结果进一步证实了高速切削的优越性，证明了该软件生成刀轨算法的先进性和正确性。在此基础上概括出了高速铣削自动编程系统的关键技术。     

Analysis of tool wear patterns in finishing turning of Inconel 718

This paper focuses on the analysis of tool wear mechanisms in finishing turning of Inconel 718, one of the most used Ni alloys, both in wet and dry cutting. Cemented carbides, ceramics and CBN tools are suitable for machining Ni alloys; coated carbide tools are competitive for machining operations of Ni alloys and widely used in industry. Commercial coated carbide tools (multilayer coating TiAl/TiAlN recommended for machining Ni alloys) were studied in this work. The feasibility of two inserts tested for dry cutting of Inconel 718 has been shown in the work. Experimental test were performed in order to analyze wear patterns evolution. It was found great influence of side cutting edge angle in tool wear mode.     

Evaluation of machining performance in cryogenic machining of Inconel 718 and comparison with dry and MQL machining

There has been significant work on establishing relationships between machining performance and the cutting parameters for various work materials. Recent trends in machining research show that major efforts are being made to understand the impact of various cooling/lubrication methods on machining performance and surface integrity characteristics, all aimed at improving process and product performance. This study presents the experimental results of cryogenic machining of Inconel 718, a high-temperature aerospace alloy, and comparison of its performance in dry and minimum quantity lubrication machining. Experimental data on force components, progressive tool wear parameters such as flank wear, notch wear, crater wear, cutting temperature, chip morphology, and surface roughness/topography of machined samples are presented. New findings show that cryogenic machining is a promising research direction for machining of high-temperature aerospace alloy, Inconel 718, as it offers improved machining performance in terms of reduced tool wear, temperature, and improved surface quality. It was also found that the number of nozzles in cryogenic machining plays a vital role in controlling cutting forces and power consumption in cryogenic machining of Inconel 718.     

Wear behavior of adaptive nano-multilayered AlTiN/MexN PVD coatings during machining of aerospace alloys

Machining of aerospace materials is one of the major challenges of modern manufacturing. Application of nano-multilayered AlTiN/Me_xN PVD coatings (where Me_x is a transition metal of V-VI groups of periodic table) to cemented carbide tooling results in a significant tool life improvement under conditions of cutting hard to machine alloys such as Ni-based Inconel 718 superalloy and Ti-based TiAl6V4 alloy. Microhardness and coefficient of friction of the coatings were measured during this experiment. Investigations of the coated tool life, wear behavior, chip formation (chip type and undersurface morphology) for cutting tools with nano-multilayered PVD coating were also performed. Morphology of worn tools has been studied using SEM and EDX. This study will show that metallurgical design of the nano-multilayered coating should be tailored to its application. To achieve better tool life when machining Inconel 781, adaptive nano-multilayered AlTiN/MoN coating is recommended, whereas a AlTiN/VN coating is better suited to machining TiAl6V4 alloy. A driving force behind selecting these coatings was a noticeably lower coefficient of friction at elevated temperatures.     

Finite element analysis of laser inert gas cutting on Inconel 718

Inconel 718 has high strength, which makes it difficult to cut using conventional cutting methods. In the present study, the laser inert gas cutting of Inconel 718 was simulated by finite element analysis software ANSYS. Finite element method was used to predict thermal stress and kerf width formation during the laser cutting process. ANSYS Parameter Design Language was used to model the Gaussian-distributed heat flux from the laser beam acting on the workpiece. The removal of melted material during laser cutting to form the kerf width was modeled by employing the element death methodology in ANSYS. In addition, laser cutting was simulated at continuous wave (CW) and the effects of laser power and cutting speed on kerf width were investigated. A series of experiments were carried out to verify the predictions. The temperature fields on the workpiece were measured using thermocouples. The kerf width size was measured using a profile projector, whereas the metallurgical and morphological changes at the cutting edge were examined using scanning electron microscopy. A good correlation was found between the simulation and experimental results.     

基于STEP-NC切入方式下高速铣削刀轨研究

根据STEP—NC高速铣削的不同切入方式,通过具体铣削过程中的切入角的变化对铣刀所受载荷的影响,进行了高速铣刀的有限元分析,主要解决了型腔和外轮廓周铣刀轨进刀方式的选取,对切入角的寻优自动编程技术的发展有一定的实用性。     

Effect of high-pressure cooling on life of SiAlON tools in machining of Inconel 718

High-pressure cooling has proven to be very effective when machining with carbide inserts. Longer tool life and improved chip breaking are among the most commonly mentioned advantages. Nevertheless, this cooling method has been reported to reduce the life of ceramic tools in machining of heat-resistant alloys. The main reason for that is said to be the accelerated notch wear. Therefore, in this study, SiAlON ceramic inserts with improved resistance to notching were tested in machining of Inconel?718 under high-pressure cooling. The results were compared to conventional cooling. It turned out that, while notch wear was still slightly increased when high-pressure cooling was applied, it was no longer critical for the tool life. Flank wear, on the other hand, was reduced, which led to significantly longer tool life. The variation of the tool life appeared to be slightly less and chip breaking was considerably improved. This shows that, when used properly, high-pressure cooling can help to increase the productivity in machining of heat-resistant alloys with ceramic tools.     

The Effect of Argon-Enriched Environment in High-Speed Machining of Titanium Alloy

A major factor hindering the machinability of titanium alloys is their tendency to react with most cutting tool materials, thereby encouraging solution wear during machining. Machining in an inert environment is envisaged to minimize chemical reaction at the tool-chip and tool-workpiece interfaces when machining commercially available titanium alloys at higher cutting conditions. This article presents the results of machining trials carried out with uncoated carbide (ISO K10 grade) tools in an argon-enriched environment at cutting conditions typical of finish turning operations. Comparative trials were carried out at the same cutting conditions under conventional coolant supply. Results of the machining trials show that machining in an argon-enriched environment gave lower tool life relative to conventional coolant supply. Nose wear was the dominant tool-failure mode in all the cutting conditions investigated. Argon is a poor conductor of heat; thus, heat generated during machining tends to concentrate in the cutting region and accelerate tool wear. Argon also has poor lubrication characteristics, leading to increasing friction at the cutting interfaces during machining and an increase in cutting forces required for efficient shearing of the workpiece.