An experimental and FEM study on ultrasonic-assisted turning of titanium alloy

Abstract

The increase in demand for aerospace parts leads to a need for effective and efficient machining methods to enhance the machinability of titanium alloys. This research investigates the effect of ultrasonic-assisted turning (UAT) on aerospace titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V by varying cutting parameters. Ultrasonic turning experiments were conducted to investigate the reduction in cutting forces and tool wear at different cutting parameters with wear and surface roughness analysis. Consequently, a finite element model is used to simulate the ultrasonic turning of titanium to have a better understanding of the effect of UAT on stresses and temperature profiles in the process and help explain the results found experimentally. Separation time between the tool and chip was found to be inversely proportional to the cutting speed and the depth of cut with a reduction in cutting forces and surface roughness of up to 42.5% and 61.4%, respectively, for low cutting speed and depth of cut. Tool wear is also shown to decrease in the ultrasonic machining where adhesion-diffusion wear is reduced on the rake face due to separation in the tool-chip interface. The chip temperature was found to increase while the tool temperature is found to decrease with the motion of the tool.