Rotary ultrasonic machining of SiCp/Al composites: An experimental study on cutting force and machinability

Abstract

To improve the processing quality and reduce the cost of SiCp/Al composites has become a key problem for its application. Rotary ultrasonic machining is highly suitable for machining of SiCp/Al composites with a medium or high volume fraction of reinforced phase, and the processing quality and efficiency could be improved greatly. In this article, the rotary ultrasonic machining experiments were performed for the SiCp/Al composites reinforced with 45% volume fraction, and the effects of processing parameters on the cutting force of face and flank machining were studied. The cutting force values reduce significantly, and the grinding force ratios Fn/Ft of face and flank machining are 2.843 and 1.336, respectively, which indicate that better machinability can be achieved for SiCp/Al composites using rotary ultrasonic machining.