Laser-assisted machining of Inconel 718 with an economic analysis

Superalloys have high strengths at elevated temperatures, which make them attractive toward various applications and also make these materials difficult to machine at room temperature due to excessive tool wear and poor surface finish. Laser-assisted machining (LAM) offers the ability to machine superalloys more efficiently and economically by providing the local heating of the workpiece prior to material removal by a single point cutting tool.An existing transient, three-dimensional heat transfer model is modified for modeling LAM of Inconel 718. Suitable coating conditions are determined for increasing the laser absorptivity in metals and an approximate absorptivity value is determined. The thermal model is validated in axial and circumferential directions by temperature measurement using an infrared camera.The machinability of Inconel 718 under varying conditions is evaluated by examining tool wear, forces, surface roughness, and specific cutting energy. With increasing material removal temperature from room temperature to 620 °C, the benefit of LAM is demonstrated by a 25% decrease in specific cutting energy, a 2–3-fold improvement in surface roughness and a 200–300% increase in ceramic tool life over conventional machining. Moreover, an economic analysis shows significant benefits of LAM of Inconel 718 over conventional machining with carbide and ceramic inserts.     

Laser-assisted high-speed finish turning of superalloy Inconel 718 under dry conditions

Inconel 718 (IN718) is used in aerospace applications due to its superior mechanical properties. This study investigates the high-speed machinability of this material under laser-assisted machining (LAM) and dry conditions. Finish turning tests were performed for cutting speeds up 500 m/min and feeds up to 0.5 mm/rev, using focused Nd:YAG laser beam and ceramic tool (SiAlON). At optimum machining conditions, nearly eight-fold increase in material removal rate and significant improvement in the tool life and surface finish were achieved, compared to conventional machining. The mechanisms of tool failure were identified. SEM analysis and microstructure examination of machined surfaces revealed the improvement in the surface integrity under LAM conditions.     

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.     

Hybrid machining of Inconel 718

A new approach for machining of Inconel 718 is presented in this paper. It combines traditional turning with cryogenically enhanced machining and plasma enhanced machining. Cryogenically enhanced machining is used to reduce the temperatures in the cutting tool, and thus reduces temperature-dependent tool wear to prolong tool life, whereas plasma enhanced machining is used to increase the temperatures in the workpiece to soften it. By joining these two non-traditional techniques with opposite effects on the cutting tool and the workpiece, it has been found that the surface roughness was reduced by 250%; the cutting forces was decreased by approximately 30–50%; and the tool life was extended up to 170% over conventional machining.     

Laser-assisted machining of compacted graphite iron

Compacted graphite iron (CGI) is a material currently under study for the new generation of engines, including blocks, cylinder liners, and cylinder heads. Its unique graphite structure yields desirable high strength, but makes it difficult to machine, thus resulting in a machining cost. Laser-assisted machining (LAM) is adopted to improve its machinability and hence machining economics. The machinability of CGI is studied by varying depth of cut, feed, and material removal temperature and then evaluating resultant cutting forces, specific cutting energy, surface roughness, and tool wear. At a material removal temperature of 400 °C and a feed of 0.150 mm/rev at a cutting speed of 1.7 m/s, it is shown that tool life is 60% greater than conventional conditions at a feed of 0.100 mm/rev. Surface roughness is improved 5% as compared to conventional machining at a feed of 0.150 mm/rev. CGI microstructure evaluated post machining by sectioning and polishing shows no change. An economic analysis shows that LAM can offer an approximately 20% cost savings for the machining of an engine cylinder liner.     

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.     

Direct laser assisted machining with a sapphire tool for bulk metallic glass

Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are amorphous metallic alloys with high strength and hardness. This paper discusses the machining process of Zr-BMG using a transparent sapphire tool with direct laser assistance. The laser beam passes through the tool and directly heats the workpiece material to improve its machinability. Micro textures were generated on the tool rake face to facilitate chip formation. Reduced cutting forces and improved surface finish were observed with direct laser assistance. The effects of machining speed and laser power on the material deformation mechanism were investigated. A finite element model was developed to investigate the cutting forces.     

Ti-Al系金属间化合物精密加工研究进展

稀有材料Ti-Al系金属间化合物的本征脆性在一定程度上限制了精密加工技术的选择和在航空航天、国防等领域的应用,为促进此类材料精密加工的适应性及获得高质量的表面,本文对Ti-Al系金属间化合物的精密加工技术进行综述。首先对此类材料的特性及精密加工技术进行总体概括;其次从材料的切削性能(材料去除机理、切削力、切削温度、切屑形态和刀具磨损)对其可加工性进行分析,并对材料加工后的表面完整性(表面粗糙度、表面缺陷、残余应力、加工硬化和金相组织)进行总结;最后,对应用于Ti-Al系金属间化合物所采用的超声振动辅助加工技术进行展望,以期为此类材料的加工提供一定的理论依据和技术支撑。     

Statistical analysis of surface roughness and cutting forces using response surface methodology in hard turning of AISI 52100 bearing steel with CBN tool

The present work concerns an experimental study of hard turning with CBN tool of AISI 52100 bearing steel, hardened at 64 HRC. The main objectives are firstly focused on delimiting the hard turning domain and investigating tool wear and forces behaviour evolution versus variations of workpiece hardness and cutting speed. Secondly, the relationship between cutting parameters (cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut) and machining output variables (surface roughness, cutting forces) through the response surface methodology (RSM) are analysed and modeled. The combined effects of the cutting parameters on machining output variables are investigated while employing the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The quadratic model of RSM associated with response optimization technique and composite desirability was used to find optimum values of machining parameters with respect to objectives (surface roughness and cutting force values). Results show how much surface roughness is mainly influenced by feed rate and cutting speed. Also, it is underlined that the thrust force is the highest of cutting force components, and it is highly sensitive to workpiece hardness, negative rake angle and tool wear evolution. Finally, the depth of cut exhibits maximum influence on cutting forces as compared to the feed rate and cutting speed.     

Experimental study on machinability improvement of hardened tool steel using two dimensional vibration-assisted micro-end-milling

High strength, low thermal conductivity and high work hardening tendency of tool steel are the main factors that make its machinability difficult. In this paper, two dimensional vibration-assisted micro-end-milling (2-D VAMEM) is applied to machine the hardened tool steel (HRC 55 and HRC 58) in order to improve its machinability. The experiments are carried out to study the effects of vibration parameters on the surface roughness and the tool wear. It is found that 2-D VAMEM can improve the surface roughness and reduce the tool wear compared to traditional micro-end-milling, and larger amplitude and higher frequency are useful for the surface roughness improvement and the tool wear reduction. Therefore, 2-D VAMEM is an effective method to milling of hardened tool steel and can be applied in the manufacture of moulds and dies with improved machining efficiency, surface quality and tool life.     

Experimental investigation on hard milling of high strength steel using PVD-AlTiN coated cemented carbide tool

High strength steel 30Cr3SiNiMoVA (30Cr3) is usually used to manufacture the key parts in aviation industry owing to its outstanding mechanical properties. However, 30Cr3 has poor machinability due to its high strength and high hardness. Hard milling is an efficient way in machining high strength steels. This paper investigated hard milling of 30Cr3 using a PVD-AlTiN coated cemented carbide tool with regard to cutting forces, surface roughness, chip formation and tool wear, respectively. The experimental results indicated that the increase of cutting speed from 70 to 110 m/min leads to direct reduction of cutting forces and improvement of surface finish, while both feed rate and depth of cut have negative effect on surface finish. The occurrence of oxidation on chip surfaces under high cutting temperature makes the chips show different colors which are strongly influenced by cutting speed. Saw-toothed chips were observed with the occurrence of the thermo-plastic instability within the primary shear zone. Micro-chipping and coating peeling were confirmed to be the primary tool failure modes. Serious abrasion wear and adhesive wear with some oxidative wear were confimed to be the main wear mode in hard milling of 30Cr3.     

A review of cryogenic cooling in machining processes

The cooling applications in machining operations play a very important role and many operations cannot be carried out efficiently without cooling. Application of a coolant in a cutting process can increase tool life and dimensional accuracy, decrease cutting temperatures, surface roughness and the amount of power consumed in a metal cutting process and thus improve the productivity. In this review, liquid nitrogen, as a cryogenic coolant, was investigated in detail in terms of application methods in material removal operations and its effects on cutting tool and workpiece material properties, cutting temperature, tool wear/life, surface roughness and dimensional deviation, friction and cutting forces. As a result, cryogenic cooling has been determined as one of the most favourable method for material cutting operations due to being capable of considerable improvement in tool life and surface finish through reduction in tool wear through control of machining temperature desirably at the cutting zone.     

Experimental Investigations to Study the Effects of Microwave Treatment Strategy on Tool Performance in Turning Operation

In the present study, microwave treatment has been used to enhance the tribological properties of single-point tungsten carbide (WC) cutting tool inserts such as wear resistance and hardness. The tool hardness and cutting parameters were considered to evaluate the performance of microwave-treated WC inserts in turning operation. The optimum cutting parameters were identified using response surface method (RSM)-based desirability approach. The relationship between cutting parameters and output responses, viz. flank wear, cutting force and surface roughness, was developed using the RSM. The investigations revealed that the increase in tool hardness due to complex carbide formation results in a significant reduction in tool wear, cutting forces and improvement in the surface finish of workpiece. Further, the statistical models results were validated with the experimental results. Metallurgical properties of treated and untreated tool inserts were analyzed using scanning electron microscope, x-ray diffraction method and Vickers microhardness tests. The results highlighted the importance of microwave treatment in enhancing the machining performance in turning operation.     

Chip formation, cutting forces, and tool wear in turning of Zr-based bulk metallic glass

The chip light emission and morphology, cutting forces, surface roughness, and tool wear in turning of Zr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) material are investigated. Machining results are compared with those of aluminum 6061-T6 and AISI 304 stainless steel under the same cutting conditions. This study demonstrates that the high cutting speeds and tools with low thermal conductivity and rake angle activate the light emission and chip oxidation in BMG machining. For the BMG chip without light emission, serrated chip formation with adiabatic shear band and void formation is observed. The cutting force analysis further correlates the chip oxidation and specific cutting energy and shows the significant reduction of cutting forces for machining BMG at high cutting speeds. The machined surface of BMG has better surface roughness than that of the other two work materials. Some tool wear features, including the welding of chip to the tool tip and chipping of the polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) tool edge, are reported for turning of BMG. This study concludes that BMG can be machined with good surface roughness using conventional cutting tools.     

Machining of hardened steel—Experimental investigations,performance modeling and cooling techniques: A review

The researchers have worked on many facets of machining of hardened steel using different tool materials and came up with their own recommendations. Researchers have tried to investigate the effects of cutting parameters, tool materials, different coatings and tool geometry on different machinability aspects like, the tool life, surface roughness, cutting forces, chip morphology, residual stresses and the tool–chip interface temperature under dry and/or semi-dry and/or flood cooling environment during machining of hardened steels while many of them have ventured to characterize the wear phenomenon. Good amount of research has been performed on an analytical and/or numerical and/or empirical modeling of the cutting forces, tool–chip interface temperature, and tool wear under orthogonal/oblique cutting conditions during machining of hardened steels. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review on machining of hardened steels using coated tools, studies related to hard turning, different cooling methods and attempts made so far to model machining performance(s) so as to give proper attention to the various researcher works.     

Thermally enhanced machining of hard-to-machine materials—A review

Thermally enhanced machining uses external heat sources to heat and soften the workpiece locally in front of the cutting tool. The temperature rise at the shear zone reduces the yield strength and work hardening of the workpiece, which make the plastic deformation of hard-to-machine materials easier during machining.This review summarizes the up-to-date progress and benefits of thermally enhanced machining (with a focus on laser and plasma assistance) of ceramics, metals and metal matrix composites. It covers the integration of the external heat source with cutting tools, analysis of temperature distribution around the cutting region, material removal mechanisms, tool wear mechanisms and the improvement in machinability of various engineering materials by the assistance of external heat source.     

New observations on tool wear mechanism in dry machining Inconel718

Tool wear is a problem in machining nickel-based alloy Inconel718, and it is thus of great importance to understand tool wear. Tool wear mechanism in dry machining Inconel718 with coated cemented carbide tools was analyzed in this paper. CCD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) were used to study tool wear mechanism. The results show that the main reason which causes cutting tool wear was that the tool materials fall off from the tool substrate in the form of wear debris. In addition,, element diffusion between tool and workpiece and oxidation reaction all accelerate the formation and the peeling of the wear debris. According to analysis of tool wear mechanism, tool flank wear model was established. The optimal temperature in machining Inconel718 with PVD-coated (TiAlN) tool was obtained through the established model. Excellent experimental agreement was achieved in optimal temperature calculated by the established model.     

Machinability of alloyed austempered ductile iron

Austempered ductile iron (ADI) has found enormous applications in recent years due to its high strength and hardness, coupled with substantial ductility and toughness. The high strength and hardness of ADI have caused many researchers and engineers to doubt the machinability of this material. Many investigations have adopted tool life, tool wear rate, cutting forces, and surface finish produced on a job as general criteria for evaluating the machinability of ADI. In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to evaluate the machinability of ADI alloyed with nickel by calculating the machinability index based on material removal rate and unit power consumed at various cutting speeds and feeds. The results thus obtained are presented in this paper.     

Plasma enhanced machining of Inconel 718: modeling of workpiece temperature with plasma heating and experimental results

A numerical and experimental analysis of plasma enhanced machining (PEM) of Inconel 718 is presented in this paper. Surface temperatures due to plasma heating are systematically characterized through numerical modeling and experimental investigation using infrared radiation thermometry. A three-dimensional finite difference model is established to determine the temperature distribution in a cylindrical workpiece subjected to intense localized heating. The results are compared with experimental results obtained with a radiation pyrometer. A sensitivity analysis is presented to examine the effects of machining parameters on the temperature distribution. Benefits of PEM are also demonstrated through the reduction of cutting forces and improved surface roughness over a wide range of cutting conditions. In addition, improvement of productivity in machining Inconel with PEM is illustrated.     

Determining the influence of cutting fluids on tool wear and surface roughness during turning of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel

Knowledge of the performance of cutting fluids in machining different work materials is of critical importance in order to improve the efficiency of any machining process. The efficiency can be evaluated based on certain process parameters such as flank wear, surface roughness on the work piece, cutting forces developed, temperature developed at the tool chip interface, etc. The objective of this work is to determine the influence of cutting fluids on tool wear and surface roughness during turning of AISI 304 with carbide tool. Further an attempt has been made to identify the influence of coconut oil in reducing the tool wear and surface roughness during turning process. The performance of coconut oil is also being compared with another two cutting fluids namely an emulsion and a neat cutting oil (immiscible with water). The results indicated that in general, coconut oil performed better than the other two cutting fluids in reducing the tool wear and improving the surface finish. Coconut oil has been used as one of the cutting fluids in this work because of its thermal and oxidative stability which is being comparable to other vegetable-based cutting fluids used in the metal cutting industry.