This paper studies the micro-cutting characteristics of aluminum alloy (2A12) based on a series of orthogonal experiments and finite element method (FEM) simulations. An energy-based ductile failure law was proposed in the FEM simulation. The simulated cutting forces and chip morphology were compared with experimental results. The simulation result indicates that there is a close relationship between the cutting force and cutting heat. The micro-cutting force decreases as the heat flux vector increases. Both the cutting heat and the micro-cutting force need a finite time to achieve a steady state. It is observed that with the cutting speed of 169.95 m/min and uncut chip thickness of 6 μm, the heat flux vector in the workpiece increases to a stable value after 0.06 ms; meanwhile, the principal cutting force decreases to a steady state correspondingly, i.e., the micro-cutting process achieves the steady state. It is concluded that the steady state micro-cutting simulation can reflect the cutting process accurately.
Aiming at the surface integrity of titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V in high speed side milling, a series of side mill- ing tests were carried out with uncoated carbide milling cutter at various milling speeds. Surface roughness, residual stress, subsurface microstructure and microhardness variations were investigated. The surface roughness measurement results present that the milling speed from 80 to 120 m/min fails to produce better and more stable roughness values compared with the result obtained from 320 to 380 m/min. The residual stresses in the feed direction and axial depth of cut direction are in similar trends for the two milling speed levels mentioned above. Moreover, the residual stress pro- duced at 320 to 380 m/min is lower and more stable than that at 80 to 120 m/min. The microstructure analysis shows that the volume of β phase in the near surface becomes smaller and the deformation of β phase in the near surface be- comes obvious with the increase of the milling speed. Subsurface microhardness variation was observed down to 200 μm below the machined surface at 80 to 120 m/min and down to 160 μm at 320 to 380 m/min. It is concluded that better surface integrity and higher material removal rate can be obtained at 320 to 380 m/min than at 80 to 120 m/min.
