Tool edge radius effect on cutting temperature in micro-end-milling process

Abstract

The cutting temperature plays an important role in micro-scale cutting process due to the fact that the dimension of the micro-cutter is small and the value of micro-cutter wear is sensitive to temperature. In this paper, the temperature distribution of the micro-cutter in the micro-end-milling process has been investigated by numerical simulations and experimental approach. Micro-end-milling processes are modeled by the three-dimensional finite element method coupling thermal-mechanical effects. The micro-cutter cutting temperature distribution, the effect of various tool edge radii on cutting force, and the effective stress during micro-end-milling of aluminum alloy Al2024-T6 using a tungsten-carbide micro-cutter are investigated on. The simulation results show that with increase of tool edge radius the cutting force increases, while the effective stress and mean cutting temperature decreases slightly. In increasing the tool edge radius, the maximum effective stress and cutting temperature region of the micro-cutter occur from the rake face to the corner on the tool edge and the flank face. The tool edge radius has been found to be the major factor affecting micro-cutter temperature distribution. The experimental verification of the simulation model is carried out on a micro-end-milling process of aluminum alloy 2024-T6 with a high-precision infrared camera. The influence of tool edge radius on cutting temperature distribution was verified in experiments. © 2010 The Author(s).