Study of Vibration Milling for Improving Surface Finish of Difficult-to-Cut Materials

Abstract

Controlling vibration phenomena in production machines is one of the approaches for improving their efficiency. This also applies to cutting tool vibrations generated during machining, when the magnitude of the vibrations directly influences workpiece surface quality. Continuous efforts to enhance cutting performance have revealed that machining quality may be improved if a tool is assisted with high-frequency vibrations. During the resulting vibration cutting process [1], the tool periodically loses contact with the chip leading to a reduction in machining forces, friction, and temperature in the cutting zone and the formation of thinner chips, as well as simultaneously preventing generation of micro-cracks on the cutting edge and workpiece surface. As a consequence, this improves cutting stability, surface finish, and tool life when compared to conventional machining