Analysis of chatter suppression in vibration cutting

The occurrence of chatter is strongly influenced by the tool geometry in conventional cutting. Therefore, the tool geometry is regarded as a very important factor. On the other hand, it is known that vibration cutting is capable of cutting hardened steels. However, the theoretical explanation for finish hard-cutting with vibration cutting is still unknown. In this paper, experimental investigations show that chatter is effectively suppressed without relying on the tool geometry, and the work displacement amplitudes are reduced from a wide range of 10–102 μm to the range of 3–5 μm by applying vibration cutting. In order to study the precision machining mechanism of vibration cutting, a new cutting model which contains a vibration cutting process is proposed. Simulations of the chatter model exhibit the main feature of chatter suppression in vibration cutting. The simulation results are in good agreement with the measurement values and accurately predict the work displacement amplitudes of vibration cutting.