Analysis on Milling Performance of 2024-T351 Aluminum Alloy Using TiAlN Coated Carbide Cutting Tools

Abstract

This research is concerned with the analytical and experimental study on milling of 2024-T351 aluminum alloy with TiAlN coated carbide cutting tools in both low-speed machining and high-speed machining. The results are analyzed in terms of surface roughness and residual stresses of the workpiece. Surface roughness studies indicate that in high-speed milling of 2024-T351 aluminum alloy the surface roughness can maintain a lower value and the workpiece can obtain excellent surface quality compared to the low-speed machining. The high-speed milling was found to be able to enhance the original residual stresses of the workpiece; while the low-speed milling may weaken or undermine the original residual stresses, or even transform the initial compressive stresses into the tensile stresses.