Frederik Zanger

Modeling the process-induced modifications of the microstructure of work piece surface zones in cutting processes

Cutting processes lead to mechanical and thermal loading of tool and work piece. This loading entails a direct influence of the cutting process on the surface layers of the manufactured work pieces. As a result, residual stresses and modifications of the micro-structure like white layers can occur in surface-near zones of the work piece. This paper presents the development of a FE-simulation model to predict phase transformations due to cutting processes. Therefore a 2D-FE-cutting simulation including a dynamic re-meshing is combined with a simulation routine to describe phase transformations that was primarily developed to simulate laser hardening. This paper illustrates the implemented mechanisms to determine phase transformations considering short time austenization and shows first experimental results revealing the influence of process parameters on the surfaces microstructure.

Development of a Simulation Model to Investigate Tool Wear in Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Machining

Titanium alloys like Ti‑6Al‑4V have a low density, a very high strength and are highly resistant to corrosion. However, the positive qualities in combination with the low heat conductivity have disadvantageous effects on mechanical machining and on cutting in particular. Ti‑6Al‑4V forms segmented chips for the whole range of cutting velocities which influences tool wear. Thus, optimization of the manufacturing process is difficult. To obtain this goal the chip segmentation process and the tool wear are studied numerically in this article. Therefore, a FEM model was developed which calculates the wear rates depending on state variables from the cutting simulation, using an empirical tool wear model. The segmentation leads to mechanical and thermal load variations, which are taken into consideration during the tool wear simulations. In order to evaluate the simulation results, they are compared with experimentally obtained results for different process parameters.

Increased Surface Integrity in Porous Tungsten from Cryogenic Machining with Cermet Cutting Tool

In order to eliminate the process of backfilling porous tungsten with a plastic infiltrant during machining to prevent unwanted smearing of surface pores, cryogenic machining is investigated as a viable alternative. Porous tungsten is mainly used in the manufacture of dispenser cathodes where demands for surface quality and dimensional tolerances are extremely high. For these reasons, the ability of cryogenic machining to provide increased surface integrity and tool life compared to conventional dry machining is explored. Moreover, some preliminary results of machining with various cutting edge radii and effects on surface stress state are presented. Overall, cryogenic machining does provide significant surface quality and tool wear improvements over conventional dry machining practices.

Influence of cutting parameters, tool coatings and friction on the process heat in cutting processes and phase transformations in workpiece surface layers∗

Abstract The surface states and thus the functionality of machined workpieces are influenced by parameters of the process and the cutting tool. Depending on these variables different mechanical and thermal loads lead to changing characteristics of components. This paper presents a 2D-FE-cutting simulation model predicting machining induced phase transformations of workpiece surface layers for the steel 42CrMo4 (AISI 4140) considering detailed friction modeling between tool and workpiece, based on tribological experiments. The cutting simulation model was developed using the commercial software ABAQUS. Friction and phase transformations are implemented using specific user subroutines. The model calculates the process of austenization and the transformed volume fraction of the phases ferrite/perlite, bainite and martensite. Additional thermo dynamical simulations of the heat transfer using the code INSFLA are performed. The simulated temperatures, cutting forces and phase transformations are compared to orthogonal cutting experiments.

Investigation of the Machining Behavior of Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) Using Chip Formation Simulation

The machining of metal matrix composites (MMC) induces cyclic loadings on tools, which creates new challenges for machining. In particular the distributed reinforcement, consisting of silicon carbide (SiC) or aluminum oxide (Al2O3), evokes especially high mechanical loads. The development of metal matrix composites is pointing towards higher fractions of reinforcements, which affects the resulting forces and temperatures. In this regard the influence of varying particle filling degrees, particle diameters, cutting velocities and tool geometries in terms of rake angle and cutting edge radius have been investigated by means of cutting simulation. For the process a self-designed continuous remeshing routine was used for which a dual phase material behavior has been implemented. The developed simulation model enables investigations of the machining behavior of metal matrix composites to the extent that ideal process strategies and tool geometries can be identified by multiple simulations.

Quantitative microstructural analysis of nanocrystalline surface layer induced by a modified cutting process

Present work analyzes the influence of process and modified geometry parameters of an orthogonal final machining process (finishing) on the nanocrystalline surface layers generation by quantitative microstructural analysis. Thereby, AISI 4140 (German Steel 42CrMo4) in a state quenched and tempered at 450°C is used as workpiece material. Metallic materials used in technical applications are polycrystalline in nature and are composed of a large number of grains which are separated by grain boundaries. The grain size has a strong influence on the mechanical material properties. Metallic parts with a severe nanocrystalline grain refinement in the near-surface area show many beneficial properties. Such surface layers considerably influence the friction and wear characteristics of the workpiece in a subsequent usage as design elements working under tribological loads due to their extreme superplastic properties. The tribologically induced surface layers formation already starts during the manufacturing of the components, by leading to a change of workpiece material near the surface. Particularly when the depth of cut h becomes of the same order as the cutting edge radius rß, the ploughing process becomes increasingly important and strongly influences the chip formation process. The plastic zone depth within the surface layer is especially influenced by the design of the microgeometry of the cutting tools and increases almost linearly with the ratio of cutting edge radius rß to depth of cut h. The plastic zone is hereby approximately of the same order of magnitude as the cutting edge radius rß. Parameters that are studied and taken into account in the manufacturing process are cutting edge radius rß, depth of cut h and cutting velocity vc. Variations of cutting depth h are performed in a range of 30 to 100 µm and variations of cutting edge radius rß are executed in a range of 30 to 150 µm. The microgeometries of the tools are preconditioned by abrasive grinding with a drag finishing machine and observed by a confocal light microscope. A cutting velocity vc of 25 and 150 m/min is applied. The evaluation of the manufacturing process is carried out by detailed analyses of the microstructural conditions in the surface layer after processing using a Focused Ion Beam system. These material characterizations provide information about the surface engineering concerning the microstructural changes in the workpiece surface layer due to machining. Hereby, the grain size analysis is investigated by a line method based on the characterization of portions of several test-lines positioned across the two dimensional Focused Ion Beam images.

Surface Layer States of Worn Uncoated and TiN-Coated WC/Co-Cemented Carbide Cutting Tools after Dry Plain Turning of Carbon Steel

Analyzing wear mechanisms and developments of surface layers in WC/Co-cemented carbide cutting inserts is of great importance for metal-cutting manufacturing. By knowing relevant processes within the surface layers of cutting tools during machining the choice of machining parameters can be influenced to get less wear and high tool life of the cutting tool. Tool wear obviously influences tool life and surface integrity of the workpiece (residual stresses, surface quality, work hardening, etc.), so the choice of optimised process parameters is of great relevance. Vapour-deposited coatings on WC/Co-cemented carbide cutting inserts are known to improve machining performance and tool life, but the mechanisms behind these improvements are not fully understood. The interaction between commercial TiN-coated and uncoated WC/Co-cemented carbide cutting inserts and a normalised SAE 1045 steel workpiece was investigated during a dry plain turning operation with constant material removal under varied machining parameters. Tool wear was assessed by light-optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and EDX analysis. The state of surface layer was investigated by metallographic sectioning. Microstructural changes and material transfer due to tribological processes in the cutting zone were examined by SEM and EDX analyses.

Analysis of surface layer characteristics for sequential cutting operations

Abstract For manufacturing processes like milling, broaching and skiving tools with multiple cutting edges are used. The geometry and the characteristics of the machined components are the result of sequential cuts. A finite element model is built up including the sequential cutting by transferring component states between work piece models. The model is validated by comparing residual stresses between numerical and experimental results. Small element sizes allow for a detailed resolution of quantities describing the component state. Characteristics of the specific depth profiles are used for the analysis of residual stresses. The influence of process parameters and the number of simulated sequential cuts are examined. Sequential cuts show an influence on surface residual stresses. Residual stresses decrease for low cutting velocities and slightly increase for high cutting velocities. Tensile stresses also reach to deeper areas of the surface layer with increasing number of cuts. Compressive stresses pass through a significant maximum before decreasing to a constant value. A steady stress state is identified after ten sequential cuts.

Simulation of Multiple Chip Formation when Broaching SAE 5120 Low Alloy Steel

The paper aims to predict component conditions after each subprocess of a manufacturing process chain. A continuous simulation has to be achieved, considering the inheritance of component states. To identify functional descriptions between component conditions as input and output quantities a broaching simulation is being developed. It includes multiple chip formation with multi-toothed broaching tools and machining history of a component as well. For this purpose component conditions are extracted from and transferred to a workpiece model as an initial condition. The 2D finite element chip formation model uses remeshing for material separation allowing highly detailed surface layer characterizations. Parallel experimental studies vary process parameters, whose objective is optimization of process control and forecast of component properties. Characterization of component conditions is based on distortion analysis, cutting force and surface measurements. Comparing the specific cutting forces between simulation model and performed experiments show a reasonable agreement of results

Experimental and Simulative Modeling of Drilling Processes for the Compensation of Thermal Effects

This work focuses on the prediction of phase transformations and shape deviations for drilling of demonstrator workpieces. In a first step, a 2D chip formation simulation was developed with all physical effects. Based on this simulation a simplified workpiece geometry with only one drilling hole was 3D modeled and tested for its predictive capability of phase transformations and shape deviations. Therefore, the feed rate, the rotation of the drilling tool and the material removal were considered for the process kinematics. Using these results the modeling approach was optimized and transferred into a simulation model with a demonstrator workpiece to minimize shape deviations and control phase transformations using different compensation strategies. The simulations were validated by experiments.