Modeling of Cutting Process with Cutter Axis Inclination
Multi-axis controlled machining has been increasing with the demand for high quality in mold manufacturing. The cutter axis inclination should be properly determined in the milling operations. The paper discusses the cutting process of ball end mill with the cutter axis inclination. Two mechanistic models are presented to show the effect of the cutter axis inclination on the tool wear and the surface finish. The actual cutting time during a rotation of the cutter reduces with increasing the cutter axis inclination. Then, the tool is cooled in the non-cutting time. The tool wear is suppressed with reducing the cutting temperature. The surface finish is also improved by increasing cutting velocities with the cutter axis inclination. When the cutter is inclined in the feed direction, the effect of the edge roughness on the surface finish is eliminated. The discussion based on the simulation is verified in the cutting tests for brittle materials.