Design and Evaluation of an Eco-Efficient RHVT-Cooled Ti6Al4V Drilling Process

Abstract

The continuous demand focused on optimizing titanium machining techniques in the aerospace industry, makes improving machining processes in this area of great interest to the industry. The contamination produced by the coolants used to machine titanium is a major problem to be addressed, since it is a material that requires cooling due to its strength, physical qualities and low thermal conductivity. That is why the implementation of a RHVT cooling system can improve the current situation. The aim of this work is to compare the final quality of the drilling by applying the system of RHTV (Ranque Hilsch Vortex Tube) cooling techniques and to see the advantages of its application with the dry machining process. This cooling system is expected to reduce drilling temperatures, thereby increasing the environmental performance of the manufacturing process. It is expected to set up a preliminary study based on a comparison between dry drilling and drilling assisted by the application of RHTV. Macro and microgeometric defects will be evaluated to determine the cooling system efficiency, as well as the machining temperatures reached.