An Investigation of Lateral Surface Hardness and Related Cutting Forces in One-Directional Ultrasonic-Vibration Assisted Turning

Abstract

The experimental investigation of UAT shows that the movement of cutting tool edge relative to the workpiece results from the cutting speed, feed speed and tools vibration in tangential direction affects the lateral machined surface of workpiece and leaves a repeating pattern of toothed regions on it. In UAT process, because of constant feed rate of tool toward workpiece, the cutting tool never separates from workpiece, though the tool rake face may separate periodically from chip in every cycle of vibration. This results in an increase in the surface hardness of the lateral machined surface in comparison with conventional turning (CT). The results of the present study confirm the advantage of UAT as far as the lower cutting force is concerned compared with CT. The higher surface hardness of the lateral surface observed in UAT causes the maximum cutting force to increase but the average force decreases with respect to CT.