Finite Element Simulation of Semi-finishing Turning of Electron Beam Melted Ti6Al4V Under Dry and Cryogenic Cooling

Abstract

In the last few years, important step forwards have been made on Finite Element Simulation of machining operations. Wrought Ti6Al4 V alloy has been deeply investigated both numerically and experimentally due to its wide application in the industry. Recently, Additive Manufacturing technologies as the Electron Beam Melting and the Direct Melting Laser Sintering are more and more employed in the production of biomedical and aeronautical components made of Ti6Al4 V alloy. Fine acicular microstructures are generated by the application of additive manufacturing technologies, affecting the mechanical properties and the machinability. By the consequence, this peculiarity has to be considered in modelling the material behaviour. In this work, a numerical analysis of cylindrical external turning on Electron Beam Melted (EBM) Ti6Al4 V alloy is presented. A Johnson-Cook constitutive equation was implemented as a flow stress model and adapted with respect to the wrought Ti6Al4 V alloy. The model was calibrated and validated through the cutting forces and temperatures measurements acquired under dry and cryogenic lubricating conditions.