Pei Yan

Design and Performance of Property Gradient Ternary Nitride Coating Based on Process Control

Surface coating is an effective approach to improve cutting tool performance, and multiple or gradient coating structures have become a common development strategy. However, composition mutations at the interfaces decrease the performance of multi-layered coatings. The key mitigation technique has been to reduce the interface effect at the boundaries. This study proposes a structure design method for property-component gradient coatings based on process control. The method produces coatings with high internal cohesion and high external hardness, which could reduce the composition and performance mutations at the interface. A ZrTiN property gradient ternary nitride coating was deposited on cemented carbide by multi-arc ion plating with separated Ti and Zr targets. The mechanical properties, friction behaviors, and cutting performances were systematically investigated, compared with a single-layer coating. The results indicated that the gradient coating had better friction and wear performance with lower wear rate and higher resistance to peeling off during sliding friction. The gradient coating had better wear and damage resistance in cutting processes, with lower machined surface roughness Ra. Gradient-structured coatings could effectively inhibit micro crack initiation and growth under alternating force and temperature load. This method could be extended to similar ternary nitride coatings.

Effect of cutting fluid on precision machined surface integrity of heat-resistant stainless steel

The machined surface integrity of blades is of utmost importance in the power equipment manufacturing industry. Recently, many blade accidents have been attributable to the misuse of cutting fluids that were necessary in the actual machining of difficult-to-cut materials, but the effect of the cutting fluid on surface integrity and service performance has been persistently neglected. In this article, an investigation into the effect of cutting fluids on the surface quality of a typical blade material was undertaken, combined with properties of two universal cutting fluids. Element composition, surface morphology, residual stress and hardness of the machined surfaces were investigated. The results indicated that cutting fluids could not reduce cutting forces in precision machining. There were some places where local and irregular elemental Cr loss was incurred when machined with the additive Cl, and the depth of Cr loss was 1–2 µm. The machined surface under CF-206 was smooth, and the roughness of CF-210 was the highest. The tensile residual stresses of dry cutting were the highest, whereas those of CF-210 were the lowest. Surface work hardening under cutting fluids was higher, with depths of 20–30 µm. These results are significant for the control of precision machined surfaces and subsurfaces of blades with high integrity and service performance.

Research on the Drilling Performance of a Helical Point Micro Drill with Different Geometry Parameters

During the micro-drilling process of stainless steel, the wear, fracture, and breakage of the micro-drill easily occur. Micro-drill geometry parameters have significant influence on the drilling performance of the micro-drill. Nowadays, the helical point micro-drill is proposed and its improved drilling performance is validated by some researchers. In this study, to analyze the effect of geometry parameters of the helical point micro-drill on drilling performance, the mathematical models of the helical flank and ground flute are proposed, and the cutting lip shape, rake angle, and uncut chip thickness are calculated using MATLAB software. Then, based on the orthogonal tests, nine kinds of micro-drills with different point angles, web thicknesses, and helix angles are fabricated using a six-axis CNC tool grinder, and micro-drilling experiments on 1Cr18Ni9Ti stainless steel are carried out. The drilling force, the burr height, and the hole wall quality are measured and observed. The results show that the point angle is the main contributing factor for the thrust force and burr height, and the web thickness is the main contributing factor for the micro hole wall quality. The increased point angle offers a larger thrust force, but gives rise to a smaller exit burr. A larger web thickness leads to a larger thrust force and burr height, and results in a poor surface quality. With the helix angle increased, the thrust force and burr height decreases, and the surface quality of micro-hole improves. The geometry parameters with a point angle 70°, a point angle of 40°, and web thickness ratio of 0.2 can used to improve the drilling performance of the helical point micro-drill.

Effect of cutting fluids on corrosion properties and turning surface quality of Fe-based superalloy

As the steam turbine rotor works in extreme conditions of high temperature, pressure, speed, and load, better material performance and machined surface quality are highly demanded. Fe-based superalloy is a kind of typical difficult-to-cut material that is widely used as steam turbine rotors, and cutting fluid is necessary during its machining process. However, many accidents occurred for the misuse of cutting fluids. The effect of cutting fluids on material characteristics and physical mechanical properties cannot be ignored. In this article, an experimental research was taken on the effect of cutting fluids on corrosion property and turning surface quality of a typical rotor material. Tafel curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, surface morphology, and residual stress of machined surfaces were investigated. The results were explained integrating with physical and chemical properties of two cutting fluids. It indicated that the cutting fluid had an obvious effect on the corrosion property and machined surface quality of Fe-based superalloy. The material surface may be corroded after long-time exposure to cutting fluids. The lubricating property of cutting fluids has a great effect on surface morphology and residual stress, which may affect product lifetime and surface performance.

Influence of Drill Geometry Parameters on Helical Point Micro Drilling Performance

Helical point micro-drill is characterized by a continuous helical flank instead of the piecewise planar flank, and its improved drilling performance is validated compared with planar drill point by some researchers. In this study, to analyze the effect of geometry parameters of helical point drill on the drilling performance, the micro-drills with different point angles, web thicknesses and helix angles of the flute are fabricated on a 6-axis CNC tool grinder, and a serial of micro-drilling experiments involving these drills on 1Cr18Ni9Ti austenitic stainless steel are carried out. In experiments, the drilling forces are measured and exit burrs are observed. Within a certain range of geometry parameters, thrust force increases with the increase of point angle and web thickness, and the decrease of the helix angle of the flute. The point angle is the main contributory factor for the thrust force followed by web thickness, while helix angle has a moderate effect on the force. Furthermore, poisson burr and rollover burr are generated with different point angles. Based on the results, a good selection of the helical point drill geometry parameters with small point angle, big helix angle and small web thickness are proposed to improve the micro-drilling performance.

Influence of Wheel Position Parameters on Flute Profile of Micro-Drill

Drill flute has a great influence on the drilling performance of micro-drill, and its profile largely depends on the grinding parameters, wheel profile and position. It is promising to obtain a desired flute profile with a standard wheel by adjusting the wheel position parameters. To investigate the influence of wheel position parameters on the flute profile, the micro-drill flute is simulated by MATLAB software considering the wheel installation angle and the offset distance from wheel origin to the drill blank origin, and the radial rake angle, flute width and chip evacuation capacity are quantitatively calculated to evaluate the flute profile. The simulated results show that the wheel installation angle has an obvious effect on the three performance parameters of flute profile, and the wheel offset distance only influences a parameter, i.e., the flute width evidently. The radial rake angle of drill flute increases obviously with the increased wheel installation angle, and decreases slightly with the increased wheel offset distance. With the decreased wheel installation angle, the flute width of drill flute increases causing the reduction of micro-drill strength but improvement of the chip evacuation capacity. With the increased wheel offset distance, the flute width also increases resulting in the reduction of micro-drill strength but no obvious change on chip evacuation capacity. Thus the wheel installation angle can be used as a main factor among the wheel position parameters to obtain the desired flute profile.

Effect of element contents on friction and wear behaviors of ternary nitride coatings

Purpose The purpose of this study was to clarify the applicable conditions for coatings with different element contents. Surface coating on existed tool material is an effective way to improve the cutting tool properties in extremely adverse machining conditions. These coatings are generally non-metering compounds. Each coating with a certain element ratio has a specific application condition, and the relationship between element contents and performance should be defined. Design/methodology/approach (Zr, Ti)N hard coatings with different element contents were deposited on cemented carbide. The ball-on-disk method reciprocating sliding wear tests against 40Cr hardened steel were carried out. This paper was focused on analysis of the friction and wear behaviors of these (Zr, Ti)N coatings with different element contents. Findings The results indicated that atomic ratio of Zr and Ti was the main factor that decided the friction coefficients. The friction coefficient and wear rate showed a gradual downward trend at 10 N with the increase of Zr content. The wear rate was the smallest at the atomic percentage of nitrogen 0.466. If the lattice distortion of the coatings gets too severe, the coatings would have a high wear rate. Originality/value The optimal application conditions of the coatings were defined, and this was important for customized design or choice of the coatings under different cutting parameters.