STUDY ON NEAR DRY CUTTING OF ALUMINUM ALLOYS

Series of orthogonal cutting tests of aluminum alloys with different amount of silicon content have been carried out to investigate the chip formation process and adhesion of the work material to the rake face of the cutting tool under near dry cutting conditions. No adhesion is observed when cut with the sintered diamond tool regardless of the amount of the silicon content. On the other hand, the amount of adhesion increases with an increase in the silicon content in the aluminum alloys when cut with the cemented carbide and DLC-coated tools. No adhesion is formed when the nominal coefficient of friction on the rake face is 0.3 or less, and adhesion is formed when the nominal coefficient of friction is 0.4 or more. The amount of adhesion decreases with an increase in the rake angle when cut with the cemented carbide tools and the DLC-coated tool.