Roundness in Drilling of Low-Rigidity Workpiece

Abstract

This study described the effect of mechanical properties on the roundness of a drilled hole in the drilling of low-rigidity workpieces. A thin-thickness part workpiece model involving a beam plate structure fixed on both ends was used in the study. The effects of feed, workpiece length, distance from the fixed end to the drilling point, and mechanical properties of the workpiece on the roundness of the hole were investigated. The thrust force increased with feed and the roundness became worse with feed. The hole was enlarged in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece at the upper section of the hole. An increase in the workpiece length decreased the rigidity of the workpiece and deteriorated the roundness of the hole. The roundness error was extremely small when the drilling point was near the fixed end. Carbon steel, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, and titanium alloy were used as workpiece materials. The thrust force in the drilling of titanium alloy and stainless steel was considerably larger than that of the carbon steel and aluminum alloy. The roundness of the hole was worse in the drilling of titanium alloy and stainless steel than that in the drilling of carbon steel and aluminum alloy. Plastic deformation occurred in the workpieces made of titanium alloy and stainless steel, which is probably because the workpiece was yielded by the large thrust force. The value of the ratio of the thrust force in drilling to the Young’s modulus of the workpiece was used in evaluating the deflection of the workpiece and the roundness error of the hole in drilling.