Impact of Tool Inserts in High Speed Machining of GFRP Composite Material

Abstract

Composite materials are in-homogenous, anisotropic and cause high tool wear at high cutting speeds in machining. Industrial practices worldwide reveal a need to use high speed machining to achieve the desired material removal rate, surface finish and to reduce cost cutting. In this research work, impact of turning glass fibre reinforced polymer tube with two contrasting turning tool inserts such as titanium aluminium nitride and tungsten carbide have been analysed. The turning was conducted at low to high cutting conditions up to spindle speeds of 2000 rpm and feed rate of 0.446mm/rev. The cutting force, feed force were acquired with a strain gauge based dynamometer, the chip cross section was observed using scanning electron microscopy and the temperature was sensed with a infra red thermo sensor. The advanced titanium aluminium nitride insert shows better machining characteristics across cutting speeds.