Aiding of Micro End-Milling Condition Decision Using Data-Mining from Tool Catalog Data

Abstract

When the minor diameter of an end-mill is 1.0 mm or less, handling of tools becomes difficult because of the influence of the characteristic size effect and bending of the cutting edge. Furthermore, it is hard for engineers to derive the cutting conditions that can serve as indexes in the early stage of micro end-milling. In this study, a system that can make instantaneous decisions was developed, on the basis of workpiece material-characteristics and tool shape parameters, by applying data mining techniques together with non-hierarchical and hierarchical clustering methods on micro end-mill catalog data. Slotting experiments using cemented carbide square micro end-mill were carried out to investigate the practicability of derived mining conditions under slotting of A7075 (JIS). We found that catalog mining can be used to derive the guidelines for deciding the micro end-milling conditions.