Research on breakage characteristics in side milling of titanium alloy with cemented carbide end mill

Abstract

Titanium alloy Ti6Al4V has the advantages of high specific strength, good heat resistance, and strong corrosion resistance, which is widely used in the manufacturing of aerospace industrial parts. However, in the side milling of titanium alloy, the temperature of the cutting area is high, and the cutting edge position is prone to breakage, which affects the surface quality of the workpiece. In order to reveal the tool damage failure mechanism in the milling process of titanium alloy, firstly, the impact force model when the tool cuts into the workpiece from the empty stroke and the milling force model during milling are established to obtain the cyclic load characteristics and impact effect of the tool. Then, based on the fatigue crack propagation theory and the energy balance equation of sliding crack, the elastic modulus and crack propagation law of tool material under different cutting impacts are analyzed. The interval method is used to recalculate the initial and critical damage value of tool material fracture in the maximum range. Finally, the limit conditions of the edge impact fracture of the end mill are established, and the safe cutting area of tool breakage is redefined. Through the milling test of titanium alloy, the impact damage morphology of tool in different states is redefined. The obtained redefined tool safety area provides a theoretical basis for high-speed and high-efficiency milling of titanium alloy, tool breakage, and tool life.