Ball End Milling Of Surface Research Articles

Fractal Analysis on Machined Surface Morphologies of Soft-Brittle KDP Crystals Processed by Micro Ball-End Milling.

The micro-defects on KH2PO4 (KDP) optic surfaces are mainly repaired by the micro-milling technique, while it is very easy to introduce brittle cracks on repaired surfaces, as KDP is soft and brittle. To estimate machined surface morphologies, the conventional method is surface roughness, but it fails to distinguish ductile-regime machining from brittle-regime machining directly. To achieve this objective, it is of great significance to explore new evaluation methods to further characterize machined surface morphologies. In this study, the fractal dimension (FD) was introduced to characterize the surface morphologies of soft-brittle KDP crystals machined by micro bell-end milling. The 3D and 2D fractal dimensions of the machined surfaces and their typical cross-sectional contours have been calculated, respectively, based on Box-counting methods, and were further discussed comprehensively by combining the analysis of surface quality and textures. The 3D FD is identified to have a negative correlation with surface roughness (Sa and Sq), meaning the worse the surface quality the smaller the FD. The circumferential 2D FD could quantitively characterize the anisotropy of micro-milled surfaces, which could not be analyzed by surface roughness. Normally, there is obvious symmetry of 2D FD and anisotropy on the micro ball-end milled surfaces generated by ductile-regime machining. However, once the 2D FD is distributed asymmetrically and the anisotropy becomes weaker, the assessed surface contours would be occupied by brittle cracks and fractures, and corresponding machining processes will be in a brittle regime. This fractal analysis would facilitate the accurate and efficient evaluation of the repaired KDP optics by micro-milling.

Finite Element Analysis of Ball Burnishing on Ball-End Milled Surfaces Considering Their Original Topology and Residual Stress

Ball burnishing is a superfinishing operation whose objective is the enhancement of surface integrity of previously machined surfaces, hence its appropriateness to complement chip removal processes at the end of a production line. As a complex process involving plastic deformation, friction and three-dimensional interaction between solids, numerical solutions and finite element models have typically included a considerable amount of simplifications that represent the process partially. The aim of this paper is to develop a 3D numerical finite element model of the ball burnishing process including in the target workpiece real surface integrity descriptors resulting from a ball-end milled AISI 1038 surface. Specifically, its periodical topological features are used to generate the surface geometry and the residual stress tensor measured on a real workpiece is embedded in the target surface. Secondly, different models varying the effect of the coefficient of friction and the direction of application of burnishing passes with regards to the original milling direction are calculated. Results show that the resulting topology and residual stresses are independent of the burnishing direction. However, it is evident that the model outputs are highly influenced by the value of the coefficient of friction. A value of 0.15 should be implemented in order to obtain representative results through finite element models.

Modeling of residual tool mark formation and its influence on the optical performance of KH2PO4 optics repaired by micro-milling

In the micro-milling repair process of surface defects on KH2PO4 (KDP) optics, residual tool marks are inevitably introduced on repaired surfaces. These tool marks could present great potential risks in lowering laser-induced damage thresholds of repaired KDP optics, which has not been reported in the previous works. In this work, the formation process of micro-milled tool marks was initially modeled and then the effect of these residual marks on the optical performance of KDP optics was investigated theoretically and experimentally. A 3D surface generation model for repair contours is proposed to predict the profiles of residual tool marks on micro ball-end milled surfaces, and then a numerical FEM model adopting the calculated profiles of residual tool marks is established to investigate the light intensification inside KDP optics based on electromagnetic theory. The relationship between repair machining processes, tool marks profiles and light intensifications as well as laser damage resistance of repaired KDP optics, has been discussed comprehensively and systematically. Practical repair experiments and laser damage tests verified the theoretical results very well. It revealed that the residual height of tool marks can induce apparent diffraction effect, consequently causing severe light intensification inside KDP optics. The micro milling strategies (e.g. a combination of layer-milling and spiral milling paths) can also exert a positive role in improving the laser damage resistance of KDP optics. An optimized repair process flow, adopting layer-milling path as rough milling and employing spiral-milling with path intervals of 10∼15 µm as fine milling, is recommended for the future practical engineering repair of full-aperture KDP optics in ICF facilities.

Necessity of multidimensional evaluation of the high-speed ball-end milled surface of hardened AISI D2 steel from a wear resistance perspective

This paper focuses on revealing the anisotropy of surface integrity and wear resistance of high-speed ball-end milled surfaces of hardened cold work die steel AISI D2. Dry milling tests were performed on a five-axis high-speed machining center by using a two-edged coated solid carbide ball-end milling cutter. Then, wear resistance of a hard milled surface was evaluated through block-on-ring wear tests under unlubricated condition. Results showed that ball-end milled surfaces present anisotropic characteristics in terms of surface topography, subsurface microhardness, and yield strength. Moreover, the wear resistance for ball-end milled surfaces shows dependence on sliding direction because of the anisotropy of surface integrity. Benefiting from surface work hardening, wear loss for the hard milled surface was at least 62% less than that for polished ones in the initial wear stage (10 min). However, the subsurface softening zone induced by a high-speed hard milling process has poor wear resistance due to the decrease of microhardness and yield strength. This study indicates the necessity of multidimensional evaluation for high-speed ball-end milled surfaces and the possibility of improving wear behavior by selecting appropriate sliding direction.

Comprehensive analysis of surface integrity modification of ball-end milled Ti-6Al-4V surfaces through vibration-assisted ball burnishing

This paper is an experimental research about the mechanical effects on Ti-6Al-4V surfaces treated with an ultrasonic vibration-assisted ball burnishing process. Its aim is to define the process parameters to achieve the best surface integrity on the target workpiece, as well as identifying the effects caused by the introduction of vibrations as a means of assistance. A Taguchi orthogonal array including five factors (preload, number of passes, feed velocity, strategy and original surface texture) was applied to perform the process on ball-end milled surfaces. A comprehensive analysis of the effects was performed, by considering in depth three different facets of surface integrity, namely, topology, residual stress and hardness. Hence the extensive result datasets presented in this paper, which deliver an exhaustive description of the process effects by combining a triple approach in the results analysis section. The effect of vibrations is proved positive to enhance the texture as long as the original surface is not characterized by Sq >2 μm. Furthermore, only the preload and number of passes influence the results. In terms of residual stress, all parameters are influential in the results, especially the burnishing strategy, through which a specific direction can be reinforced. Finally, the burnishing operation proves to modify the hardness of deep layers down to 0.5 mm, applying the vibration-assisted process. The main conclusion derived from these works is a technical recommendation to treat the Ti-6Al-4 V surface through the process, aiming to find a balanced comprehensive surface integrity enhancement.

Study on metrological relations between instant tool displacements and surface roughness during precise ball end milling

The study presents an analysis of relations between the instantaneous tool displacements and surface roughness formed during ball end milling of surface with inclination towards the tool’s axis. A novel experimental method for the estimation of ball end mill’s working part vibrations, considering displacements correlated with the geometrical errors of tool-toolholder-spindle system and deflections caused by milling forces has been proposed. The experiments have been conducted on hard-to-cut low carbon hardened alloy steel. Milling tests involved the use of monolithic ball end mills varied in terms of overhang l values. In the first stage, the finishing machining of inclined surface with variable cutting speeds vc was carried out. During the experiment, the instantaneous tool’s joining part displacements have been measured with the application of laser displacements sensor. Subsequently, in order to obtain the tool’s tip instantaneous displacements, the analytical extrapolation method has been proposed. In the next stage, the machined surface roughness has been measured with the application of stylus and optical profile meters. The investigations show that the value of tool’s overhang significantly affects the mechanisms of surface roughness generation during finishing ball end milling. In case of milling with the rigid tool (l = 35 mm), the surface roughness is strongly correlated with kinematic-geometric model, as well as with geometrical errors of machining system. Nevertheless, in case of milling with the slender tool (l = 85 mm), the surface roughness formation is mainly affected by the tool’s working part dynamic deflections caused by milling forces.

Effect of Spindle Speeds on 3D Topography of Ball-End Milled Surfaces Using Wavelet Analysis Method

Optical profiler is employed to acquire topography height data of ball-end milled die steel surface under different spindle speeds ranging from 2000rpm to 12000rpm with lead angle of 20° and tilt angle of-10°. By multi-scale wavelet analysis, measured height data are decomposed and then been reconstructed, meanwhile 3D topography and 3D roughness in different frequency bands are obtained. The results show that the changing trend of roughness with frequency band under different spindle speeds is not the same. In the high frequency bands, roughness has a tendency to increase with the increasing spindle speed. In the median frequency band, the roughness of the surface machined under low spindle speed 2000 rpm is the largest and the roughness of the surface machined under high spindle speed 12000 rpm is the lowest. In the low frequency bands, the roughness of the surface machined under low spindle speed 2000rpm is much larger than those obtained under other spindle speeds, and with the increasing spindle speed, the changing trend of roughness increases firstly then decreases.

Simulation of Surface Topography in Ball-End Milling Considering the Tool Deflection and Runout

The present work puts forward a generalized simulation model to evaluate the topography of ball-end milled surfaces by considering both the tool deflection and the tool runout. Firstly, a solid ball-end mill with S-shaped cutting edges is modeled as the basis. Then the tool tip trajectory is derived from the tool runout as well as the cutting forces induced tool deflection. And consequently the topography and scallop height of the machined surface are estimated by the numerical calculations of the matrix equations. With good expandibility, the proposed model can incorporate more machining information such as the movements of rotatory axes and tool wear, and hence, can be used to optimize the cutting conditions and parameters in 5-axis ball-end milling process.

Model development for the prediction of surface topography generated by ball-end mills taking into account the tool parallel axis offset. Experimental validation

This paper presents a model for the topography prediction of ball-end milled surfaces, considering the tool parallel axis offset. First, the equations of cutting edge trajectories and the envelope equation of the material swept by the tool are derived. Later, the trajectories are cut by planes perpendicular to the feed direction obtaining a set of transcendental equations that are solved by transforming them to polynomial equations through Chebyshev expansions. This procedure presents the advantage on previous models in literature of not requiring any starting point to achieve the solution. Finally, experimental results are presented and compared to the model predictions.

Quality improvement of ball-end milled sculptured surfaces by ball burnishing

In this paper, the use of the ball burnishing process to improve the final quality of form tools (moulds and dies) is studied. This process changes the roughness of the previously ball-end milled surfaces, achieving the finishing requirements for plastic injection moulds and stamping dies. Ball burnishing can be easily applied in the same machining centres as those used for milling. In this way, both lead times and production costs can be dramatically reduced. Both the burnishing system and its main parameters are taken into account, considering their influence on finishing. Workpiece surface integrity is ensured due to the surface smoothing effect of process and the associated cold working. Examples of different materials, machined surfaces, and industrial applications are explained, with respect to the maximum and mean surface roughness achieved. The main conclusion is that using a large radial depth of cut in the previous ball-end milling operation, together with a small radial depth during burnishing can produce acceptable final roughness. Savings of production times are high, as burnishing is applied using the maximum linear feed of the machine, while milling must be made at moderate feeds. Moreover, ball burnishing NC programming is less critical and needs less care in its definition than CAM for milling.

Curved surface finishing with flexible abrasive tool

A flexible abrasive tool has been developed for automatic finishing of curved surfaces on three-axes machining centers. The tool is made of thermosetting polyurethane elastomer with an overcoat of aluminum oxide abrasives. The tool is capable of conducting finishing operations and deforming itself in conformity to the shape of work surface. The tool performance such as finishing capability, conformability, and durability is examined during finishing experiments on ball-end milled surfaces of high-alloyed tool steel. It is demonstrated that the tool can finish curved surfaces successfully on three-axes machining centers. The tool/work contact pressure, which influences significantly the tool performance, is analytically estimated and utilized to determine the tool path producing a constant contact pressure. It is experimentally verified that the tool path improves the finished surface roughness.