Investigations on the machining characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V alloy during high-speed end milling process

Abstract

In recent years' titanium alloys have gained prominence in aircraft component manufacturing because of their higher specific strength and aversion to oxidation. High speed machining of high hardness materials like titanium alloys under dry environmental conditions takes through a lot of challenges in maintaining a better surface integrity. This machining study emphasises the analysis of surface integrity concerning high speed machining conditions during end milling of Ti-6Al-4V alloy in dry cutting environments. The experiments were carried out under the cutting speeds of 100 to 140 m/min. The milling forces were measured in the feed, tangential and axial directions. Virtual measurement of temperature was performed through a thermal camera. Experimental tests reveal that machining parameters such as feed and speed have a higher influence on milling force and surface roughness when compared with the axial depth of cut; simultaneously cutting speed has a higher influence on the temperature induced micro harness. [Submitted 19 March 2021; Accepted 2 July 2021]