Drilling Characteristics of SiC Particle Reinforced Aluminum-Matrix Composites with Ultrasonic Vibration

Abstract

With the rapid development of aviation at home, particle reinforced metal matrix composites (PRMMCs) has been widely applied recently. But at the same time, the difficult machining has gradually been one of the most outstanding bottle-necks that restrict the rapid enhancement of productivity. Here, in virtue of the self-developed ultrasonic drilling equipment, hole-making experiments of common and ultrasonic vibration drilling are performed on SiC particle reinforced aluminum-matrix composites （SiCp/Al）with different content of SiC by using two types of tungsten carbide drill. Drilling characteristics of machining composites with ultrasonic vibration are analyzed from such respects as the composites crush, drilling force, drill wear and hole surface quality. Studies show that, during the ultrasonic vibration drilling process, SiC particle in the composites is prone to break along the crystal connection boundary or suffer ductile fracture under the dynamic ultrasonic impulse, in which the cutting resistance could be reduced and the tool edge could be protected. Thereby, drilling locating precision and hole surface quality could be enhanced, wear of the drill chisel edge effectively improved, and the drilling torque reduced about 30%.