Low-frequency vibration drilling of titanium alloy

Abstract

Dry drilling of composite/metallic stacks for aircraft components is extremely difficult to keep sufficient hole quality and efficiency of drilling process. Problems of the dry drilling of those kinds of stacks are chip ejection, chip formation and high temperature especially for titanium alloy. To clear these problems, low-frequency vibration (10-50 Hz) drilling is proposed in this study. Controlled sinusoidal vibration was given in drill axis direction with constant feed motion. The relationship between vibration conditions, such as vibration amplitude, frequency and drill feed rate, and chip formation and drilling temperature were investigated. As a result, low-frequency vibration drilling can control chip formation to reduce chip jamming and can reduce drilling temperature. Temperature measured at the cap burr decreased by 300 degrees C or more when low-frequency vibration was applied compared with the conventional drilling. Also the wear rate of the drill is decreased when the vibration is applied. Copyright © 2006 by The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.