Modeling and simulation of 5-axis milling processes

5-axis milling is widely used in machining of complex surfaces. Part quality and productivity are extremely important due to the high cost of machine tools and parts involved. Process models can be used for the selection of proper process parameters. Although extensive research has been conducted on milling process modeling, very few are on 5-axis milling. This paper presents models for 5-axis milling process geometry, cutting force and stability. The application of the models in selection of important parameters is also demonstrated. A practical method, developed for the extraction of cutting geometry, is used in simulation of a complete 5-axis cycle.     

On cutting parameters selection for plunge milling of heat-resistant-super-alloys based on precise cutting geometry

In plunge milling operation the tool is fed in the direction of the spindle axis which has the highest structural rigidity, leading to the excess high cutting efficiency. Plunge milling operation is one of the most effective methods and widely used for mass material removal in rough/semi-rough process while machining high strength steel and heat-resistant-super-alloys. Cutting parameters selection plays great role in plunge milling process since the cutting force as well as the milling stability lobe is sensitive to the machining parameters. However, the intensive studies of this issue are insufficient by researchers and engineers. In this paper a new cutting model is developed to predict the plunge milling force based on the more precise plunge milling geometry. In this model, the step of cut as well as radial cutting width is taken into account for chip thickness calculation. Frequency domain method is employed to estimate the stability of the machining process. Based on the prediction of the cutting force and milling stability, we present a strategy to optimize the cutting parameters of plunge milling process. Cutting tests of heat-resistant-super-alloys with double inserts are conducted to validate the developed cutting force and cutting parameters optimization models.     

Influences on specific cutting forces and their impact on the stability behaviour of milling processes

To withstand global competition, nowadays it is essential for companies to assure high productivity and high quality. To reach this aim permanent technical innovation and further developments are necessary. In machining industry and especially in the field of milling the development of possibilities to increase chip removal is the major goal. The optimisation of the cutting process is one way to achieve this aim. Here, the use of stability prediction models is essential to reduce the effort in time and costs. To implement a stability prediction tool with a high accuracy in representing reality, all relevant influencing parameters and their interactions within the cutting process have to be analysed. This article describes one possibility for the experimental identification of instable milling processes. Furthermore, the influences of spindle speed and temperature on specific cutting forces and the temperature influence on the stability behaviour in milling processes are shown.     

Maximizing Chatter Free Material Removal Rate in Milling through Optimal Selection of Axial and Radial Depth of Cut Pairs

Chatter vibrations in milling, which develop due to dynamic interactions between the cutting tool and the workpiece, result in reduced productivity and part quality. Several stability models have been considered in previous publications, where mostly the stability limit in terms of axial depth of cut is emphasized for chatter free machining. In this paper, it is shown that, for the maximization of chatter free material removal rate, radial depth of cut is of equal importance. A method is proposed to determine the optimal combination of depths of cut, so that chatter free material removal rate is maximized. The application of the method is demonstrated on a pocketing example where significant reduction in the machining time is obtained using the optimal depths. The procedure can easily be integrated to a CAD/CAM system or a virtual machining environment in order to identify the optimal milling conditions.     

Feedrate scheduling strategies for free-form surfaces

Free-form machining is one of the commonly used manufacturing processes for several industries such as automobile, aerospace, die and mold industries. In 3D complicated free-form surfaces, it is critical, but often difficult, to select applicable cutting conditions to achieve high productivity while maintaining high quality of parts. It is essential to optimize the feedrate in order to improve the machining efficiency of the ball-end milling. Conservative constant feedrate values have been mostly used up to now since there was a lock of physical models and optimization tools for the machining processes.The common approach used in feedrate scheduling is material removal rate (MRR) model. In the MRR based approach, feedrate is inversely proportional to either average or instantaneous volumetric removal rate. Commonly used CAM programs and NC code generators based on only the geometric and volumetric analysis, but they do not concern the physics of the free-form machining process yet. The new approach that is also introduced in this paper is based on the mechanics of the process. In other words, the force-based models in which feedrate is set to values which keep either average or instantaneous machining forces to prescribed values. In this study, both feedrate scheduling strategies are compared theoretically and experimentally for 3D ball-end milling of free-form surfaces. It is shown that MRR based feedrate strategy outputs higher feedrate values compared to force based feedrate strategy. High feedrate values of the MRR strategy increase the cutting forces extensively which can be damaging to the part quality and to the CNC Machine.When the new force based feedrate-scheduling strategy introduced in this paper is used, it is shown that the machining time can be decreased significantly along the tool path. The force-based feedrate scheduling strategy is tested under various cutting conditions and some of the results are presented in the paper.     

Theoretical and experimental analysis of nano-surface generation in ultra-precision raster milling

The fabrication of high-quality freeform surfaces is based on ultra-precision raster milling, which allows direct machining of the freeform surfaces with sub-micrometric form accuracy and nanometric surface finish. Ultra-precision raster milling is an emerging manufacturing technology for the fabrication of high-precision and high-quality components with a surface roughness of less than 10 nm and a form error of less than 0.2 μm without the need for any additional post-processing. Moreover, the quality of a raster milled surface is based on a proper selection of cutting conditions and cutting strategies.Due to different cutting mechanics, the process factors affecting the surface quality are more complicated, as compared with ultra-precision diamond turning and conventional milling, such as swing distance and step distance. This paper presents a theoretical and experimental analysis of nano-surface generation in ultra-precision raster milling. Theoretical models for the prediction of surface roughness are built. An optimization system is established based on the theoretical models for the optimization of cutting conditions and cutting strategy in ultra-precision raster milling. A series of experiments have conducted and the results show that the theoretical models predict well the trend of the variation of surface roughness under different cutting conditions and cutting strategies.     

The influence of cryogenic cooling on milling stability

Cryogenic cooling is emerging as an effective process for high performance machining. However, the influence of cryogenic cooling on milling stability is seldom reported. This paper involves experimental study on the effect of cryogenic cooling on milling stability, using a dedicated cryogenic cooling system to applying liquid nitrogen (LN2) jet to the cutting zone. We observe that cryogenic cooling leads to higher stability limit compared with conventional milling operations, which indicates that the cutting efficiency can be improved greatly in LN2 environment as opposed to the conventional one. The stability improvement is explained from the perspective of machining dynamics parameters variation between the two conditions. Cutting force coefficients and modal parameters of spindle-tool system are identified during cryogenic machining, then milling stability lobe diagrams are predicted by time domain and frequency domain methods. On the basis of milling stability analysis, the enhancement of stability boundary is attributed to the significant reduction of cutting force coefficients during cryogenic cooling. Additionally, the experiment result indicates that cryogenic cooling decreases the dominant modal frequency of the spindle-tool system, which shifts the milling stability boundary slightly to lower spindle speed range. The explanations are verified by a plenty of cutting tests.     

Increasing productivity in sculpture surface machining via off-line piecewise variable feedrate scheduling based on the force system model

Sculpture surface machining is a critical process commonly used in various industries such as the automobile, aerospace, die/mold industries. Since there is a lack of scientific tools in practical process planning stages, feedrates for CNC machining are selected based on the trial errors and previous experiences. In the selections of the process parameters, production-planning engineers are conservative in order to avoid undesirable results such as chipping, cutter breakage or over-cut due to excessive cutter deflection. Currently, commonly used CAD/CAM programs use only the geometric and volumetric analysis, but not the physics of the processes, and rely on experience based cutting tool database and users’ inputs for selection of the process parameters such as feed and speed. Usually, the feeds and cutting speeds are set individual constant values all along the roughing, semi-finishing, and finishing processes. Being too conservative and setting feedrate constant all along the tool path in machining of sculpture surfaces can be quite costly for the manufacturers. However, a force model based on the physics of the cutting process will be greatly beneficial for varying the feedrate piecewise along the tool path.The model presented here is the first stage in order to integrate the physics of the ball-end milling process into the selection of the feeds during the sculpture surface machining. Therefore, in this paper, an enhanced mathematical model is presented for the prediction of cutting force system in ball end milling of sculpture surfaces. This physical force model is used for selecting varying and ‘appropriate’ feed values along the tool path in order to decrease the cycle time in sculpture surface machining. The model is tested under various machining conditions, and some of the results are also presented in the paper.     

Broaching of Inconel 718 with cemented carbide

Broaching is the standard process for machining complex-shaped slots in turbine discs. More flexible processes such as milling, wire EDM machining and water-jet cutting are under investigation and show promising results. In order to further use existing resources and process knowledge, the broaching process has to be improved towards higher material removal rates. Taking into account that the state-of-the-art broaching process is working with high-speed-steel tools, the higher thermal resistant cemented carbide cutting materials offer the potential to significantly increase cutting speeds, which lead to increased process productivity. The following article presents a broad study on broaching with cemented carbide tools. Different cutting edge geometries are discussed on the basis of process forces, chip formation and tool wear mechanisms. Furthermore, a detailed comparison to the standard process is drawn.     

The form error reduction in side wall machining using successive down and up milling

In this paper, the form error reduction method is presented in side wall machining. Cutting forces and tool deflection are calculated considering surface profile generated by the previous cutting such as roughing and semi-finishing. Using the form error prediction from tool deflection curve, the effects of tool teeth numbers, tool geometry and cutting conditions on the form error are analyzed. The characteristics and the differences of generated surface shape in up and down milling are also discussed and over-cut free condition in up milling is presented. The form error reduction method through successive down and up milling has been suggested. The effectiveness and usefulness of the suggested method are verified from a series of cutting experiments under various cutting conditions. It is confirmed that the form error prediction from tool deflection in side wall machining can be used in proper cutting condition selection and real time surface error simulation for CAD/CAM systems. This research also contributes to cutting process optimization for the improvement of form accuracy in die and mold manufacture.     

Prediction of cutting force distribution and its influence on dimensional accuracy in peripheral milling

Cutting force has a significant influence on the dimensional accuracy due to tool and workpiece deflection in peripheral milling. In this paper, the authors present an improved theoretical dynamic cutting force model for peripheral milling, which includes the size effect of undeformed chip thickness, the influence of the effective rake angle and the chip flow angle. The cutting force coefficients in the model were calibrated with the cutting forces measured by Yucesan [18] in tests on a titanium alloy, and the model was proved to be more accurate than the previous models. Based on the model, a few case studies are presented to investigate the cutting force distribution in cutting tests of the titanium alloy. The simulation results indicate that the cutting force distribution in the cut-in process has a significant influence on the dimensional accuracy of the finished part. Suggestions about how to select the cutter and the cutting parameters were given to get an ideal cutting force distribution, so as to reduce the machining error, meanwhile keeping a high productivity.     

Investigation of lead and tilt angle effects in 5-axis ball-end milling processes

Five-axis milling is widely used in aerospace, die-mold and automotive industries, where complex surfaces and geometries are machined. Being special parameters of 5-axis milling, lead and tilt angles have significant effects on the process mechanics and dynamics which have been studied very little up to now. In this paper, first of all, effects of tool tip contact on the surface finish quality is presented, and conditions to avoid tip contact in terms of lead and tilt angles and depth of cut are stated. The effects of lead and tilt angles on cutting forces, torque, form errors and stability are investigated through, modelling and verified by experimental results. It is shown that the cutting geometry, mechanics and dynamics vary drastically and non-linearly with these angles. For the same material removal rate, forces and stability limits can be quite different for various combinations of lead and tilt angles. The results presented in the paper are expected to help understanding of complex 5-axis milling process mechanics and dynamics in a better way. The results should also help selection of 5-axis milling conditions for higher productivity and machined part quality.     

Integrated planning for precision machining of complex surfaces. Part 1: Cutting-path and feedrate optimization

In order to achieve higher productivity and product quality simultaneously for sculptured surface productions, two advanced strategies are proposed for machining planning, namely a cutting-path-adaptive-feedrate strategy and a control surface strategy. In the cutting-path-adaptive-feedrate strategy, machining time is reduced by cutting along low-force-low-error machining directions and by maximizing feedrates. In the control surface strategy, machining errors are minimized by using a compensated control surface based on predicted machining errors. In part 1 of this paper, the cutting-path-adaptive-feedrate strategy, which improves the productivity of sculptured surface machining when subjected to both force and dimensional constraints, is described. In this proposed strategy, a new machining-planning aid called a maximum feedrate map is developed. In this map, the maximum allowable feedrates, subjected to the specified constraints, at each control point along various machining directions, are determined using a surface generation model. These local maximum-feedrate boundaries indicate the acceptable range of feedrates that a part programmer can use in the NC programming. In addition, the maximum feedrate map also provides the part programmer an important aid in selecting the cutting directions. In order to illustrate the application of the maximum feedrate map and to examine the capability of the proposed cutting-path-adaptive-feedrate strategy in improving the productivity of sculptured surface machining, simulation studies of a two-dimensional curved surface are performed and the results are presented in this paper. The applications of the proposed strategy to real three-dimensional complex surfaces (e.g. a turbine blade die) along with experimental verifications are presented in part 2 of this paper. In part 3 of this paper the control surface strategy and its applications to the finish milling of three-dimensional complex surfaces are discussed.     

Holistic modelling of process machine interactions in parallel milling

Parallel milling allows to increase the manufacturing capacity in industry due to a higher cutting productivity. The latter is often negatively influenced by dynamical instabilities of the parallel milling process entailing a reduced profitability. In this paper a holistic model of interactions between a double spindle machine and a parallel milling process is presented that enables an identification of the dynamic compliance of parallel milling machines and a simulation of their stability behaviour. With that an investigation of stability optimization means is possible. A significant improvement of the process stability and, thus, the effective cutting productivity was observed in the parallel milling processes, optimized with help of the holistic model.     

Chatter suppression in micro end milling with process damping

Micro milling utilizes miniature micro end mills to fabricate complexly sculpted shapes at high rotational speeds. One of the challenges in micro machining is regenerative chatter, which is an unstable vibration that can cause severe tool wear and breakage, especially in the micro scale. In order to predict chatter stability, the tool tip dynamics and cutting coefficients are required. However, in micro milling, the elasto-plastic nature of micro machining operations results in large process damping in the machining process, which affects the chatter. We have used the equivalent volume interface between the tool and the workpiece to determine the process damping parameter. Furthermore, the accurate measurement of the tool tip dynamics is not possible through direct impact hammer testing. The dynamics at the tool tip is indirectly obtained by employing the receptance coupling method, and the mechanistic cutting coefficients are obtained from experimental cutting tests. Chatter stability experiments have been performed to examine the proposed chatter stability model in micro milling.     

Process simulation using finite element method — prediction of cutting forces, tool stresses and temperatures in high-speed flat end milling

End milling of die/mold steels is a highly demanding operation because of the temperatures and stresses generated on the cutting tool due to high workpiece hardness. Modeling and simulation of cutting processes have the potential for improving cutting tool designs and selecting optimum conditions, especially in advanced applications such as high-speed milling. The main objective of this study was to develop a methodology for simulating the cutting process in flat end milling operation and predicting chip flow, cutting forces, tool stresses and temperatures using finite element analysis (FEA). As an application, machining of P-20 mold steel at 30 HRC hardness using uncoated carbide tooling was investigated. Using the commercially available software DEFORM-2D™, previously developed flow stress data of the workpiece material and friction at the chip–tool contact at high deformation rates and temperatures were used. A modular representation of undeformed chip geometry was used by utilizing plane strain and axisymmetric workpiece deformation models in order to predict chip formation at the primary and secondary cutting edges of the flat end milling insert. Dry machining experiments for slot milling were conducted using single insert flat end mills with a straight cutting edge (i.e. null helix angle). Comparisons of predicted cutting forces with the measured forces showed reasonable agreement and indicate that the tool stresses and temperatures are also predicted with acceptable accuracy. The highest tool temperatures were predicted at the primary cutting edge of the flat end mill insert regardless of cutting conditions. These temperatures increase wear development at the primary cutting edge. However, the highest tool stresses were predicted at the secondary (around corner radius) cutting edge.     

RCPM—A new method for robust chatter prediction in milling

The reliability of conventional chatter prediction algorithms is limited by the inaccuracy of machining system dynamic models. In this paper, a new probabilistic algorithm for a robust analysis of stability in milling, which performs the stability analysis on an uncertain dynamic milling model, is presented. In this approach, model parameters are considered as random variables, and robust analysis of stability is carried out in order to estimate system's probability of instability for a given combination of cutting parameters. By doing so, probabilistic instead of deterministic stability lobes are obtained, and a new criterion for system stability based on level curves and gradient of the probabilistic lobes can be applied to identify optimal robust stable cutting conditions. Experimental validation consisted of different phases: firstly, machining system dynamics were estimated by means of pulse tests. Secondly, cutting force coefficients were determined by performing cutting tests. Eventually, chatter tests were performed and the experimental stability lobes were compared with the predicted robust stable regions.     

Influence of the number of inserts for tool life evaluation in face milling of steels

Tool life tests are often employed to verify the behaviour of one or more inserts in a cutter in order to optimise machining productivity and minimise cost. In milling process, such tests are expensive and require many of tools and a lot of work material to achieve any of the stipulated tool rejection criterion in any of the inserts. In practice, tool life tests are usually carried out using only one or few edges in a face milling cutter in order to minimise cost. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the number of tools used in face milling operation and how they relate to the establishment of tool life under specified cutting conditions. Flank wear curves were evaluated for AISI 1045 and 8640 steels using 1, 2, 3 and 6 inserts in a face milling cutter. Test results show that reduction in the number of inserts in the milling cutter led to a reduction in the amount of material removed and also tend to increase tool life when machining at the same feed per tooth. Results obtained using reduced number of inserts in a milling cutter should only be used for comparison between two or more conditions and should not be used to establish tool life.     

The application of tool deflection knowledge in process planning to meet geometric tolerances

Machine tool deflections due to cutting forces can result in dimensional errors on workpieces. The problem is most severe when flexible tools such as end mills are used. When dimensioned features are specified with tolerances, process planning should examine the compromise between achieving high productivity rates and meeting dimensions within the specified tolerances. The use of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing permits interaction between size and position and makes bonus tolerances available. The errors occurring in end milling are first examined and modelled using regression methods. A procedure is proposed for selecting optimal feed rates that ensure that tolerances can be met. The process is demonstrated in machining a slot using the down milling mode. The use of a tolerance analysis chart clarifies the results of the test in relation to the tolerance standards. The need to consider the transient errors at the exit of the cut is demonstrated.