Turning Titanium Alloy, Grade 5 ELI, With the Implementation of High Pressure Coolant

Abstract

In the machining of difficult-to-cut alloys, such as titanium-based alloys, the delivery of a cutting fluid with high pressure can increase machining efficiency and improve process stability through more efficient chip breaking and removing. Proper selection of machining conditions can increase the productivity of the process while minimizing production costs. To present the influence of cutting fluid pressure and chip breaker geometry on the chip breaking process for various chip cross-sections Grade 5 ELI titanium alloy turning tests were carried out using carbide tools, H13A grade, with a -SF chip breaker geometry under the cutting fluid pressure of 70 bar. Measurements of the total cutting force components for different cutting speeds, feeds, and cutting depth in finishing turning were carried out. The analysis of the obtained chips forms and the application area of the chip breaker have been presented. It was proved that for small depth of cut (leading to small chip cross-section) the cutting fluid pressure is the main cause of the chip breakage, since the insert chip breaker does not work. On the other hand, for bigger depths of cut where the chip breaker goes in action, the cutting fluid pressure only supports this process. For medium values of depths of cut the strength of chip is high enough so that the pressure of the cutting fluid cannot cause chip breaking. A chip groove is not filled completely so the chip breaker cannot play its role.