Investigation of thermal behavior on cylinder liner during its boring process

Research was conducted on the effect of cutting conditions on temperature rise of cylinder liner during cylinder-boring process. A finite element method (FEM) model was developed to confirm suitable cutting conditions by predicting the temperature distribution in a cylinder liner and thermal expansion of the cylinder liner. To analyze the temperature distribution in the cylinder liner during machining, the partition of the total heat generated during machining which flows into the cylinder liner has to be investigated. A method combining experiment with analysis, called an “inverse heat transfer method”, was used to estimate the heat percentage flowing to the cylinder liner in this paper. To capture the required data for the inverse heat transfer method, sets of dry and wet boring experiments were conducted to estimate the temperature distribution in the cylinder liner wall and the cutting force during machining. The influence of the cutting conditions (for example: cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut, cutting fluid) on the cutting force and temperature distribution in a cylinder during machining was investigated, and the heat partition flowing to the workpiece under various cutting conditions (especially, under high-speed cutting, with a maximum cutting speed up to 900 m/min) was then determined. A three-dimensional FEM analysis model was developed to simulate the temperature distribution in the cylinder liner and thermal expansion of the cylinder liner during machining. Then, the suitable cutting conditions in cylinder boring were confirmed by FEM analysis. To investigate the influence of the air cooling on the temperature distribution in the cylinder liner after machining, the change of temperature distribution in the cylinder liner under air cooling was predicted.     

7N01铝合金高速斜角切削过程中的切屑演化机理

目的 研究高强铝合金高速斜角切削参数对切屑形态及演化规律的影响,探究切屑形态转变的内在机理,为延长刀具使用寿命、改进加工工艺提供理论依据.方法 基于通用有限元软件建立7N01铝合金高速斜角切削三维数值模型,利用加工中心、三向测力仪进行切削试验,通过金相显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对切屑形貌进行表征,结合有限元仿真结果,探明切...     

The effect of machinability on thermal fields in orthogonal cutting of AISI 4140 steel

The micro-scale temperature fields in the cutting of two AISI 4140 steels with different machinability ratings were measured. A custom infrared microscope was constructed; each pixel was calibrated separately to reduce measurement uncertainty. Orthogonal cutting experiments were performed on a high speed machining center with surface speeds up to 500 m min⁻¹ and uncut chip thicknesses ranging from 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. The results indicate that in certain critical regions of the thermal field, improved machinability correlates with significant reductions in temperature that exceed measurement uncertainties. Such micro-scale temperature measurements will help to design materials with further improved machinability.     

In-situ measurement of rake face temperatures in orthogonal cutting

In machining, the thermal load significantly influences the tool wear and the workpiece quality, thus limiting the productivity. Therefore, a new experimental setup for the high-speed measurement of the rake face temperature in orthogonal cutting without substantially affecting the chip formation was developed. The investigations focus on the influence of different rake face preparation methods and cutting parameters on the temperature of the rake face, measured in the immediate vicinity of the cutting edge. The presented results significantly improve the understanding of the process and provide new insights for the tool development and the validation of cutting models.     

Advantages of nanocomposite coatings deposited by high power pulse magnetron sputtering technology

Recent advantages in PVD coatings for cutting tools enable high speed and dry machining with superior cutting parameters in commercial manufacturing sectors. For this reason hard coatings with high oxidation resistance and thermal stability are used for economically justifiable machining. In this regard nc-(Ti,Al)N/a-Si₃N₄ films were sputtered on tungsten carbide cutting tools and WC/Co samples by using the high power pulse magnetron sputtering (HPPMS) technology. Coating composition, microstructure and applied properties were investigated by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and nanoindentation. The hardness value was about 29 GPa for a Si content of 3.3 at.%. The grain size was about 6 nm. As this study focuses on the thickness uniformity of the coatings, SEM pictures of the cross-section have been taken around the cutting edge to determine the deposition rate and the film growth. The coatings morphology has been compared to middle frequency and direct current sputtered nanocomposite (Ti,Al,Si)N films. The results demonstrate the enhanced HPPMS coatings properties, including a denser structure, a smoother surface and a favourable thickness uniformity.     

Advanced coated ceramic tools for machining superalloys

The main limitation on the use of nickel-base superalloys, such as INCONEL 718, is the difficulty in conventional-type machining. The use of high cutting speed to achieve both machining adiabatic conditions and high productivity is necessary for their applications. This non-conventional type machining results in a short life-span of tools, even for those expensive ceramic ones with reinforced SiC whiskers (SiC_w) suitable for use at high cutting speeds. The aim of the paper is to present the results of a new idea proposed by the authors to obtain an increase in tool life at high cutting speed by minimizing the temperature effects on composite reinforcement mechanisms. The 2090 SiC whiskers reinforced A1₂O₃ tools were CrN and (Ti,AI)N coated using the PVD technique, and comparative machining tests on INCONEL 718 were carried out using uncoated and coated tools. After machining, the tools were observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and EDAX (X-ray) semiquantitative analyses were performed. The behaviour of the CrN and (Ti,AI)N layers using various cutting conditions was analysed and different wear mechanisms along the tool chip contact length were observed. The cause and the mechanisms of wear were deduced and mathematic models linking tool life with process parameters were suggested.     

Mechanism of minimum quantity lubrication in high-speed milling of hardened steel

The rapid wear rate of cutting tools due to high cutting temperature is a critical problem to be solved in high-speed machining (HSM) of hardened steels. Near-dry machining such as minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) is regarded as one of the solutions to this difficulty. However, the function of MQL in HSM is still uncertain so far which prevents MQL from widely being utilized in the machining of hardened steels. In this paper, the mechanism of MQL in HSM of hardened steel is investigated more comprehensively. Comparing with dry cutting, the tool performance can be enhanced by MQL under all cutting speeds in this study. It is found that MQL can provide extra oxygen to promote the formation of a protective oxide layer in between the chip–tool interface. This layer is basically quaternary compound oxides of Fe, Mn, Si, and Al, and is proved to act as diffusion barriers effectively. Hence, the strength and wear resistance of a cutting tool can be retained which leads to a significant improvement of tool life. It is found that there exists an optimal cutting speed at which a stable protective oxide layer can be formed. When cutting speed is lower than this speed, there is less oxide layer and the improvement of tool life is less apparent. As the cutting speed is far beyond the optimal value, the protective layer is absent and the thermal cracks are apt to occur at the cutting edge due to large fluctuation of temperature. Resultantly, application of MQL is inappropriate in the extreme high-speed cutting condition irrespective of its little increase in tool life. Based on this study, it is concluded that the tool life can be effectively improved by MQL in HSM of NAK80 hardened steels when cutting parameters are chosen properly.     

Wear behavior of Al2O3/Ti(C,N)/SiC new ceramic tool material when machining tool steel and cast iron

Design, fabrication and application of ceramic cutting tools are one of the important research topics in the field of metal cutting and advanced ceramic materials. In the present study, wear resistance of an advanced Al₂O₃/Ti(C,N)/SiC multiphase composite ceramic tool material have been studied when dry machining hardened tool steel and cast iron under different cutting conditions. Microstructures of the worn materials were observed with scanning electronic microscope to help analyze wear mechanisms. It is shown that when machining hardened tool steel at low speed wear mode of the kind of ceramic tool material is mainly flank wear with slight crater wear. The adhesion between tool and work piece is relatively weak. With the increase of cutting speed, cutting temperature increases consequently. As a result, the adhesion is intensified both in the crater area and flank face. The ceramic tool material has good wear resistance when machining grey cast iron with uniform flank wear. Wear mechanism is mainly abrasive wear at low cutting speed, while adhesion is intensified in the wear area at high cutting speed. Wear modes are dominantly rake face wear and flank wear in this case.     

Influences of chip serration on micro-topography of machined surface in high-speed cutting

Saw-tooth chip changes from macroscopically continuous ribbon to separated segments with the increase of cutting speed. The aim of this study is to find the correlations between chip morphology and machined surface micro-topography at different chip serration stages encountered in high speed cutting. High strength alloy steel AerMet100 was employed in orthogonal cutting experiments to obtain chips at different serration stages and corresponding machined surfaces. The chips and machined surfaces obtained were then examined with optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and white light interferometer (WLI). The result shows that chip serration causes micro-waves on machined surface, which increases machined surface roughness. However, wave amplitudes (surface roughness) at different serration stages are different. The principal factor influencing wave amplitude is the thickness of the sawed segment (tooth) of saw-tooth chip. With cutting parameters in this study, surface roughness contributed by chip serration ranges from 0.39 μm to 1.85 μm. This may bring on serious problems in the case of trying to replace grinding with high-speed cutting in rough machining. Some suggestions have been proposed to control the chip serration-caused surface roughness in high-speed cutting based on the results of the current study.     

On the precision single-point diamond machining of polymeric materials

This paper is a continuation of long duration research and it reports about new results in the investigation of wear of natural monocrystalline diamond cutting tool in single-point precision and ultraprecision machining process of thermoplastic amorphous polymeric materials for various application, e.g. for photon-optical and bioengineering applications. In these investigations we have been using up-to-date methods and devices, including atomic force microscope, interferometers and optical profilers, 3D topographic analysis systems, optical-polarizable microscope, etc. Wear criterion was chosen as the technological criterion of the diamond tool cutting wedge clearance face wear (h_cf < 0.6 μm), what allows to provide high quality level of the machined surfaces of articles from polymers.     

Brittle–ductile transition during diamond turning of single crystal silicon carbide

In this experimental study, diamond turning of single crystal 6H-SiC was performed at a cutting speed of 1 m/s on an ultra-precision diamond turning machine (Moore Nanotech 350 UPL) to elucidate the microscopic origin of ductile-regime machining. Distilled water (pH value 7) was used as a preferred coolant during the course of machining in order to improve the tribological performance. A high magnification scanning electron microscope (SEM FIB- FEI Quanta 3D FEG) was used to examine the cutting tool before and after the machining. A surface finish of Ra=9.2 nm, better than any previously reported value on SiC was obtained. Also, tremendously high cutting resistance was offered by SiC resulting in the observation of significant wear marks on the cutting tool just after 1 km of cutting length. It was found out through a DXR Raman microscope that similar to other classical brittle materials (silicon, germanium, etc.) an occurrence of brittle-ductile transition is responsible for the ductile-regime machining of 6H-SiC. It has also been demonstrated that the structural phase transformations associated with the diamond turning of brittle materials which are normally considered as a prerequisite to ductile-regime machining, may not be observed during ductile-regime machining of polycrystalline materials.     

Modelling the correlation between cutting and process parameters in high-speed machining of Inconel 718 alloy using an artificial neural network

An artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed for the analysis and prediction of the relationship between cutting and process parameters during high-speed turning of nickel-based, Inconel 718, alloy. The input parameters of the ANN model are the cutting parameters: speed, feed rate, depth of cut, cutting time, and coolant pressure. The output parameters of the model are seven process parameters measured during the machining trials, namely tangential force (cutting force, F_z), axial force (feed force, F_x), spindle motor power consumption, machined surface roughness, average flank wear (VB), maximum flank wear (VB_max) and nose wear (VC). The model consists of a three-layered feedforward backpropagation neural network. The network is trained with pairs of inputs/outputs datasets generated when machining Inconel 718 alloy with triple (TiCN/Al₂O₃/TiN) PVD-coated carbide (K 10) inserts with ISO designation CNMG 120412. A very good performance of the neural network, in terms of agreement with experimental data, was achieved. The model can be used for the analysis and prediction of the complex relationship between cutting conditions and the process parameters in metal-cutting operations and for the optimisation of the cutting process for efficient and economic production.     

Coating optimisation for high speed machining with advanced nanomechanical test methods

Advanced nanomechanical testing has been used to evaluate key factors influencing tool life (1) a plasticity index (PI, the plastic work done/total work done during indentation), at room and elevated temperature (2) hot hardness and (3) fatigue fracture resistance, and determine their relative importance in different cutting applications. The optimum combination of hardness and toughness/plasticity to minimise wear and extend the life of coated WC-Co cutting tools was found to vary with the severity and nature of the cutting conditions. For interrupted cutting the plasticity index is critical, with high values (i.e. not extremely high H/E) resulting in extended tool life. Elevated temperature nanoindentation showed decreasing hardness and increasing PI with temperature. In high-speed turning hot hardness is the dominant factor whilst for interrupted cutting high hot hardness should be combined with improved plasticity for longer tool life. A novel test technique nano-impact, was used to simulate the interrupted contact (and cyclic loading) conditions occurring in milling applications and evaluate the fatigue fracture resistance of coated tools. It was able to successfully rank coatings in terms of tool life in end milling and reproduce the evolution of tool wear in the cutting test. In elevated temperature nano-impact testing the probability and extent of fracture during the test decreased at elevated temperature, consistent with the higher PI. Results from the advanced nanomechanical tests can be used in combination to predict which coatings have longer life in severe cutting conditions.     

A study of micropool lubricated cutting tool in machining of mild steel

This paper presents an experimental study of the performance of micropool lubricated cutting tool in machining mild steel. Microholes are made using femtosecond laser on the rake face of uncoated tungsten carbide (WC) cutting inserts. Finite element analysis is conducted to assess the effect of microholes on the mechanical integrity of the cutting inserts. Liquid (oil) and solid (tungsten disulfide) lubricants are used to fill the microholes to form micropools. A comparative study is conducted between micropool lubricated (surface-textured) cutting tools and dry/flood-cooled conventional (untextured) cutting tools. Three cutting force components are measured and compared. Tool–chip contact length and chip morphology are examined using optical microscope. It is found that the mean cutting forces (F_f, F_t, and F_c) are reduced by 10–30% with micropool lubrication. The chip–tool contact length is reduced by about 30%. Coiling chips are produced with micropool lubricated cutting tool while long and straight chips are formed with the conventional cutting tool. Liquid and solid lubricants are found to be equally effective in reducing the contact length and coefficient of friction at the chip–tool interface. There is no adverse effect on the performance of the insert with microholes on the rake face.     

Hard machining of hardened bearing steel using cubic boron nitride tool

In many cases, hard machining remains an economic alternative for bearing parts fabrication using hardened steels. The aim of this experimental investigation is to establish the behaviour of a CBN tool during hard turning of 100Cr6-tempered steel. Initially, a series of long-duration wear tests is planned to elucidate the cutting speed effects on the various tool wear forms. Then, a second set of experiments is devoted to the study of surface roughness, cutting forces and temperature changes in both the chip and the workpiece. The results show that CBN tool offers a good wear resistance despite the aggressiveness of the 100Cr6 at 60HRC. The major part of the heat generated during machining is mainly dissipated through the chip. Beyond 280 m/min, the machining system becomes unstable and produces significant sparks and vibrations after only a few minutes of work. The optimal productivity of machined chip was recorded at a speed of 120 m/min for an acceptable tool flank wear below 0.4 mm. Beyond this limiting speed, roughness (R_a) is stabilized because of a reduction in the cutting forces at high speeds leading to a stability of the machining system. The controlling parameter over roughness, in such hard turning cases, remains tool advance although ideal models do not describe this effect rationally. Surface quality obtained with CBN tool significantly compared with that of grinding despite an increase in the advance by a factor of 2.5. A relationship between flank wear (VB) and roughness (R_a) is deduced from parametric analysis based on extensive experimental data.     

Chip formation and phase transformation in orthogonal machining of NiTi shape memory alloy: microstructure-based modelling and experimental validation

Phase transformation and shape memory response of NiTi alloys are sensitive to the variation of temperature and stress. Thus, the phase transformation of NiTi alloys becomes more complex during machining process. This study presents findings from a major study involving modelling of machining-induced phase transformation of NiTi alloys performed by modifying Helmholtz free energy-based microstructure model. Orthogonal cutting tests were performed to validate the predicted outputs from the simulation, such as cutting forces, temperatures and chip morphology. This work provides a strong evidence that the developed new model can accurately predict the experimentally recorded outputs in machining of NiTi alloys.     

Investigation into minimal-cutting-fluid application in high-speed milling of hardened steel using carbide mills

Applying cutting fluid in a metal-cutting process can reduce the rate of tool wear and improve surface quality. However, cutting fluid has negative effects on the working environment and the use of cutting fluid also increases the total production cost. Therefore, there is a need to reduce the use of cutting fluid during machining. To serve that purpose, a minimal-cutting-fluid technique was studied. In the present work the cutting fluid was applied in a form of a high-velocity, narrow, pulsed jet at a rate of 2 ml/min. The performance of machining with pulsed-jet application was studied in high-speed milling of hardened steel, compared to dry machining and machining with flood application. The results clearly show that compared to dry machining and machining with flood application, machining with pulsed-jet application lowers cutting forces, reduces tool wear, increases tool life, and improves surface roughness, especially when machining with high cutting velocity. Moreover, the amount of cutting fluid consumed at the rate of 2 ml/min is a drastic reduction compared to flood application. Also, no harmful oil mist is generated during the pulsed-jet application. In conclusion, the pulsed-jet application can be applied to milling process of hardened steel using ball end mills; it reduces the negative effects to the environment, improves machining performances, and consequently reduces total production cost.     

Refrigerated cooling air cutting of difficult-to-cut materials

One approach to enhance machining performance is to apply cutting fluids during cutting process. However, the use of cutting fluids in machining process has caused some problems such as high cost, pollution, and hazards to operator's health. All the problems related to the use of cutting fluids have urged researchers to search for some alternatives to minimize or even avoid the use of cutting fluids in machining operations. Cooling gas cutting is one of these alternatives. This paper investigates the effect of cooling air cutting on tool wear, surface finish and chip shape in finish turning of Inconel 718 nickel-base super alloy and high-speed milling of AISI D2 cold work tool steel. Comparative experiments were conducted under different cooling/lubrication conditions, i.e. dry cutting, minimal quantity lubrication (MQL), cooling air, and cooling air and minimal quantity lubrication (CAMQL). For this research, composite refrigeration method was adopted to develop a new cooling gas equipment which was used to lower the temperature of compressed gas. The significant experimental results were: (i) application of cooing air and CAMQL resulted in drastic reduction in tool wear and surface roughness, and significant improvement in chip shape in finish turning of Inconel 718, (ii) in the high-speed milling of AISI D2, cooling air cutting presented longer tool life and slightly higher surface roughness than dry cutting and MQL. Therefore, it appears that cooling air cutting can provide not only environment friendliness but also great improvement in machinability of difficult-to-cut materials.     

Effect of tool edge geometry and cutting conditions on experimental and simulated chip morphology in orthogonal hard turning of 100Cr6 steel

Understanding chip formation mechanisms in hard turning is an important area of research. In this study, experiments with varying cutting conditions and tool edge geometry were performed concurrently with finite element simulations. The aim was to investigate how the two mechanisms reported in literature namely—surface shear-cracking (SCH) and catastrophic thermoplastic instability (CTI) contribute to overall chip geometry and machining forces. By varying tool edge geometry and cutting conditions predominance of one over another is discussed. The calculation prescribed by Recht [Recht, R., 1964. Catastrophic thermoplastic shear. J. Appl. Mech. 31, 189–193] for representative cutting conditions resulted in a small critical cutting speed of 0.034 m/min indicating CTI was operative in the range of cutting conditions tested. FEM simulations were conducted on a subset of experimental conditions. Chip geometry and forces were compared between experiments and simulations. The experimental results indicated that SCH predominated in a majority of conditions. However, formation of saw-tooth chips in the FEM simulations established the occurrence of CTI also. Specifically, the edge radius did not alter chip geometry parameters. However, machining forces decreased with cutting speed and chip formation frequency increased linearly with cutting speed. A more negative rake angle also increased the chip pitch. The findings also indicate that only an intrinsic length scale governs saw-tooth chip formation in hard turning.     

Machinability improvement of titanium alloy (Ti–6Al–4V) via LAM and hybrid machining

Titanium alloy (Ti–6Al–4V) is one of the materials extensively used in the aerospace industry due to its excellent properties of high specific strength and corrosion resistance, but it also presents problems wherein it is an extremely difficult material to machine. The cost associated with titanium machining is also high due to lower cutting speeds (<60 m/min) and shorter tool life. Laser-assisted machining (LAM) and consequently hybrid machining is utilized to improve the tool life and the material removal rate. The effectiveness of the two processes is studied by varying the tool material and material removal temperature while measuring the cutting forces, specific cutting energy, surface roughness, microstructure and tool wear. Laser-assisted machining improved the machinability of titanium from low (60 m/min) to medium-high (107 m/min) cutting speeds; while hybrid machining improved the machinability from low to high (150–200 m/min) cutting speeds. The optimum material removal temperature was established as 250 °C. Two to three fold tool life improvement over conventional machining is achieved for hybrid machining up to cutting speeds of 200 m/min with a TiAlN coated carbide cutting tool. Tool wear predictions based on 3-D FEM simulation show good agreement with experimental tool wear measurements. Post-machining microstructure and microhardness profiles showed no change from pre-machining conditions. An economic analysis, based on estimated tooling and labor costs, shows that LAM and the hybrid machining process with a TiAlN coated tool can yield an overall cost savings of ～30% and ～40%, respectively.