Search Results (15)

The preparation of high-performance hard coatings on the surface of cemented carbide PCB (printed circuit board) microdrills can effectively decrease the rapid tool wear that occurs during cutting. In this study, arc ion plating technology was employed to deposit conventional AlTiN columnar crystal single-layer coatings and AlTiN nanocrystalline single-layer coatings on the cemented carbide substrates of PCB microdrills. Additionally, a novel AlTiN composite coating with alternating columnar and nanocrystalline layers was designed and deposited. The mechanical properties and morphological characteristics of the three coating structures were analyzed using an indentation tester and scanning electron microscopy. The above three coated PCB microdrills were tested under the same conditions, and the cutting performance and tool wear mechanisms were compared and analyzed. The results show that the primary wear mechanisms for AlTiN-coated PCB microdrills are abrasive wear and coating flaking, and that the microdrill with the AlTiN columnar/nanocrystalline multilayer composite coating has the longest tool life. The novel AlTiN columnar/nanocrystalline composite coating exhibits superior interfacial adhesion strength, higher toughness, and better surface quality, and, hence, is more suitable for the high-speed drilling of PCB microholes. Full article

Several challenges arise during edge trimming of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, such as the formation of machining-induced burrs and delamination. In a recent development, appropriate-quality geometric features in CFRPs can be machined using special cutting tools and optimised machining parameters. However, these suitable technologies quickly become inappropriate due to the accelerated tool wear. Therefore, the main aim of our research was to find a novel solution for maintaining the machined edge quality even if the tool condition changed significantly. We developed a novel mechanical edge-trimming technology inspired by wobble milling, i.e., the composite plate compression is governed by the proper tool tilting. The effectiveness of the novel technology was tested through mechanical machining experiments and compared with that of conventional edge-trimming technology. Furthermore, the influences of the tool tilting angle and the permanent chamfer size on the burr characteristics were also investigated. A one-fluted solid carbide end mill with a helix angle of 0° was applied for the experiments. The machined edges were examined trough stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The images were evaluated through digital image processing. Our results show that multi-axis edge-trimming technology produces less extensive machining-induced burrs than conventional edge trimming by an average of 50%. Furthermore, we found that the tool tilting angle has a significant impact on burr size, while permanent chamfer does not influence it. These findings suggest that multi-axis edge trimming offers a strong alternative to conventional methods, especially when using end-of-life cutting tools, and highlight the importance of selecting the optimal tool tilting angle to minimize machining-induced burrs. Full article

The present study focuses on the elimination of delamination during the drilling of a linen-based biocomposite material in epoxy resin used for the manufacture of sports kayaks, depending on the tool material, cutting conditions, and the use of additional wooden support plates. In the present study, HSS (high-speed steel) and Carbide cutting tools without coatings, with the same geometry and two types of cutting conditions (n = 1500 rpm, f_n = 0.05 and 0.1 mm/rev) were used. A Sololite-type wooden backing plate was used to aid in reducing delamination. The results show that the additional support plates significantly reduced delamination by up to 80% both at the material inlet and especially at the drill hole outlet. In this study, the use of a lower feed rate (f_n = 0.05 mm/rev) per tooth was shown to have a significant effect on reducing the delamination of biocomposite materials with flax fibers, which are generally known to be difficult to machine. The Carbide cutting tool shows significantly better results both in terms of its wear and in terms of delamination of the biocomposite material. The highest delamination was obtained without the use of a backing board at the tool exit after 50 drilled holes of 3509 µm. With the use of a backing board, this delamination decreased to 693 µm after 50 drilled holes. Full article

Typical edge defects in the edge region of a new cemented carbide insert without edge preparation include burrs, poor surface quality, micro-breakages, and irregularities along the edge. To address the problems in new cemented carbide inserts without edge preparations, a chemical–mechanical synergistic preparation (CMSP) method for the cemented carbide insert cutting edge was proposed. Firstly, the CMSP device for the insert cutting edge was constructed. Then, the polishing slurry of the CMSP for the insert cutting edge was optimized using the Taguchi method combined with a grey relation analysis and fuzzy inference. Finally, orthogonal experiments, the Taguchi method, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to investigate the effect of the polishing plate’s rotational speed, swing angle, and input frequency of the controller on the edge preparation process, and the parameters were optimized. The results showed that the best parameter combination for the polishing slurry for the cemented carbide inserts was the mass concentration of the abrasive particle of 10 wt%, the mass concentration of the oxidant of 10 wt%, the mass concentration of the dispersant of 2 wt%, and the pH of 8. The CMSP process parameter combination for the linear edge had the polishing plate’s rotational speed of 90 rpm, the swing angle of 6°, and the input frequency of the controller of 5000 Hz. The optimum CMSP process parameter combination for the circular edge had the polishing plate’s rotational speed of 90 rpm, the swing angle of 6°, and the input frequency of the controller of 7000 Hz. The polishing plate’s rotational speed had the most significant impact on the edge preparation process, followed by the swing angle, and the effect of the input frequency of the controller was the smallest. This study demonstrated that CMSP is a potential way to treat the cemented carbide insert cutting edge in a tool enterprise. Full article

The complexity of milling metal matrix composite alloys based on aluminum like Al/SiC is due to their low melting point and high abrasive ability, which causes increased wear of carbide tools. One of the effective ways to improve its reliability and service life is to modify the surface by plasma chemical deposition of carbon-based multilayer functional layers from vapor (CVD) with high hardness and thermal conductivity: diamond-like (DLC) or polycrystalline diamond (PCD) coatings. Experiments on an indexable mill with CoroMill 200 inserts have shown that initial tool life increases up to 100% for cases with DLC and up to 300% for multilayered MCD/NCD films at a cutting speed of 800 m/min. The primary mechanism of wear of a carbide tool in this cutting mode was soft abrasion, when wear on both the rake and flank surfaces occurred due to the extrusion of cobalt binder between tungsten carbide grains, followed by their loss. Analysis of the wear pattern of plates with DLC and MCD/NCD coatings showed that abrasive wear begins to prevail against the background of soft abrasion. Adhesive wear is also present to a lesser extent, but there is no chipping of the base material from the cutting edge. Full article

Hard coatings, such as transition metal nitrides, have been widely applied to improve the mechanical properties and tribological performance of cutting tools. The coatings in various multilayered or gradient structures have been designed to meet the demands of more severe service environments and more precise processing requirements. In this work, TiN/TiSiN coatings in several gradient and multilayered structures were deposited on cemented carbides by cathodic arc ion plating using Ti and TiSi alloy targets. The modulation period (Λ) of the multilayer gradually varies with thickness, ranging from 6 to 46 nm. The gradient multilayer coatings consist of a nanocrystalline-amorphous composite with compact growth. The coating with a modulation period first increasing and then decreasing has the highest hardness of 38 GPa, and the maximum residual compressive stress of −2.71 GPa, as well as the minimum coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate. Gradient and multilayer structures moderate the brittleness caused by the presence of amorphous SiNx phase and optimize the mechanical properties and tribological performances of the coatings. Full article

Surface plastic deformation has a high productivity and allows for products with unique operational properties, namely: a high quality of the surface layer, increased support stability of the profile of the treated surface, a strengthened surface layer, and the formation of residual compressive stresses in the surface layer. The essence of smoothing is that a tool with regulated geometric characteristics of the deforming element (indenter) under specific technological processing modes penetrates the surface layer of the workpiece and slides, deforming the microgeometry formed as a result of previous technological operations. The article considers the option of using carbide-cutting plates as deforming elements. For this, a morphological table of methods of spatial orientation of the indenter-plate has been developed, which includes 27 possible options for its installation. The algorithm for calculating the geometry of the contact zone of the indenter and the workpiece is presented. The contact interaction of the indenter plate and the workpiece was studied. On the basis of morphological analysis and conducted applied studies, rational installation angles of the deforming element were determined. The interdependence of the properties of the surface layer on the technological modes of processing was defined. Full article

This article deals with improving the wear resistance of multilayer coatings as a fundamental problem in metal surface treatment, strengthening elements of cutting tools, and ensuring the reliability of machine parts. It aims to evaluate the wear depth for multilayer coatings by the mass loss distribution in layers. The article’s primary purpose is to develop a mathematical method for assessing the value of wear for multilayer steel-based coatings. The study material is a multilayer coating applied to steel DIN C80W1. The research was performed using up-to-date laboratory equipment. Nitrogenchroming has been realized under overpressure in two successive stages: nitriding for 36 h at temperature 540 °C and chromizing during 4 h at temperature 1050 °C. The complex analysis included several options: X-ray phase analysis, local micro-X-ray spectral analysis, durometric analysis, and determination of wear resistance. These analyses showed that after nitrogenchroming, the three-layer protective coating from Cr₂₃C₆, Cr₇C₃, and Cr₂N was formed on the steel surface. Spectral analysis indicated that the maximum amount of chromium 92.2% is in the first layer from Cr₂₃C₆. The maximum amount of carbon 8.9% characterizes the layer from Cr₇C₃. Nitrogen is concentrated mainly in the Cr₂N layer, and its maximum amount is 9.4%. Additionally, it was determined that the minimum wear is typical for steel DIN C80W1 after nitrogenchroming. The weight loss of steel samples by 25 mg was obtained. This value differs by 3.6% from the results evaluated analytically using the developed mathematical model of wear of multilayer coatings after complex metallization of steel DIN C80W1. As a result, the impact of the loading mode on the wear intensity of steel was established. As the loading time increases, the friction coefficient of the coated samples decreases. Among the studied samples, plates from steel DIN C80W1 have the lowest friction coefficient after nitrogenchroming. Additionally, a linear dependence of the mass losses on the wearing time was obtained for carbide and nitride coatings. Finally, an increase in loading time leads to an increase in the wear intensity of steels after nitrogenchroming. The achieved scientific results are applicable in developing methods of chemical-thermal treatment, improving the wear resistance of multilayer coatings, and strengthening highly loaded machine parts and cutting tools. Full article

Wire Cut Electric Discharge Machining (WCEDM) is a novel method for machining different materials with application of electrical energy by the movement of wire electrode. For this work, an AZ61 magnesium alloy with reinforcement of boron carbide and silicon carbide in different percentage levels was used and a plate was formed through stir casting technique. The process parameters of the stir casting process are namely reinforcement %, stirring speed, time of stirring, and process temperature. The specimens were removed from the casted AZ61 magnesium alloy composites through the Wire Cut Electric Discharge Machining (WCEDM) process, the material removal rate and surface roughness vales were carried out creatively. L 16 orthogonal array (OA) was used for this work to find the material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness. The process parameters of WCEDM are pulse on time (105, 110, 115 and 120 µs), pulse off time (40, 50, 60 and 70 µs), wire feed rate (2, 4, 6 and 8 m/min), and current (3, 6, 9 and 12 Amps). Further, this study aimed to estimate the maximum ultimate tensile strength and micro hardness of the reinforced composites using the Taguchi route. Full article

Field tribological tests of two design variants of chisels used in the teeth of a cultivation-sowing unit were carried out in this research. A characteristic feature of the first variant of chisels was the reinforcement of their contact surface and almost the entire rake surface by plates made of cemented carbides. On the other hand, the second variant of chisels was reinforced only in the area of the blade by two plates made of cemented carbides, soldered on the rake face of the elements. The use of the first variant of chisels contributed to a significant reduction in the wear rate of elements, especially in terms of thickness and width loss. Effective reinforcement of the rake face, with relatively lower resistance to length reduction in the elements, raises doubts as to the validity of the use of cemented-carbide plates on almost the entire length of their rake face, because the applied variant of chisels contributed to a significantly higher price. However, the second variant of chisels effectively limited the intensity of the loss of the length of the elements, and the cause of the loss of their usefulness as part of the base material wear. It was found that the main wear mechanism of the cemented-carbide plates consisted of matrix removal under the influence of the finest fraction of the soil, which weakened the embedding of carbides, and then crushing or chipping of carbide grains from the matrix, whereas the dominant wear mechanisms of martensitic steel were grooving and micro-cutting. Full article

Aluminum rich nitride coatings are often used to protect cutting tools and prolong their service life. In this work, a preoxidation technique and duplex coating design were combined to further improve the bearing capacity and heat resistance of cutting tools. The Al-Cr-Si-N, Al-Cr-Si-O-N, and Al-Cr-Si-N/Al-Cr-Si-O-N duplex coatings were developed by arc ion plating, respectively. The morphology, phase constituents, mechanical and tribological properties of the coatings were characterized and tested by SEM, XRD, a micro-hardness tester, scratch tester, and tribometer. The results showed the coating became more compact and smoother after oxygen doping. However, the Al-Cr-Si-N coating presented the best mechanical properties and tribological behaviors. Its hardness and critical load showed the highest values, which were about 4000 HV and 81 N, respectively. A friction coefficient of 0.67 and wear rate of 1.4 × 10⁻³ μm³/N·mm were also the lowest values in the study. The three coatings were deposited on the same solid carbide end mills and performed the cutting tests under same conditions. By comparison, the Al-Cr-Si-N coated tool presented the longest tool life and minimum cutting force when cutting C1045 medium-carbon steel. After 90 min of dry milling, the width of the flank wear band (VB) of the AlCrSiN coated tool reached 135 μm, which was much lower than that of the other two coated tools. Full article

In a bandsaw machine, the blade guides provide additional stiffness and help to align the blade near the cutting region. Typically, these are either in the form of blocks made of carbide or ceramics or as sealed bearings. Abrasive particles, generated while cutting hard and brittle materials like natural stones, settle between the contact surfaces of the guides and the blade causing wear and premature failure. The hydrostatic guide system, as presented in this work, is a contactless blade guiding method that uses the force of several pressurized water jets to align the blade to the direction of the cut. For this investigation, cutting tests were performed on a marble block using a galvanic diamond coated bandsaw blade with the upper roller guides replaced by hydrostatic guides. The results show that the hydrostatic guides help to reduce the passive force to a constant near zero in contrast with the traditional guides. This also resulted in reduced surface roughness of the stone plates that were cut, indicating a reduction in laterial vibration of the band. Additionally, it has also been shown that using hydrostatic guides the bandsaw blade can be tilted to counter the bandsaw drift, opening opportunities for further research in active alignment control. This original research work has shown that the hydrostatic guide systems are capable of replacing, and in fact, perform better than state-of-the-art bearing or block guides, particularly for stone-cutting applications. Full article

There is increasing use of wood-based composites in industry not only because of the shortage of solid wood, but above all for their better properties such as: strength, aesthetic appearance, etc., compared to wood. Medium density fiberboard (MDF) is a wood-based composite that is widely used in the furniture industry. The goal of the research conducted was to determine the effect of the type of coating on the drill cutting blades on the value of thrust force (F_t), cutting torque (M_c), cutting tool temperature (T) and surface roughness of the hole in drilling MDF panels. In the tests, three types of carbide drills (HW) were used: not coated, TiAlN coated and ZrN coated. The measurement of both the thrust force and the cutting torque was carried out using an industrial piezoelectric sensor. The temperature of the cutting tool in the drilling process was measured using an industrial temperature measurement system using a K-type thermocouple. It was found that the value of the maximum temperature of the tool in the drilling process depends not only on the cutting speed and feed rate, but also on the type of coating of the cutting tool. The value of both the cutting torque and the thrust force is significantly influenced by the value of the feed rate and the type of drill coating. The effect of varying plate density on the surface roughness of the hole and the variation of the value of the thrust force is also discussed. The results of the investigations were statistically analyzed using a multi-factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA). Full article

The drilling of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) plate is very critical in its structural applications in aeronautical, aerospace, and automobile industries. For ensuring the good quality of drilled holes in terms of least drilling damage and prolonged tool life, suitable selection of drill geometry and material, and drilling parameters—such as cutting speed and feed rate—are imperative in the drilling of CFRP plate. This study aims to evaluate the cutting performance of conventional two-flute twist drills made of cemented tungsten carbide YG6X (WC-6 wt % Co) for the dry drilling of the multidirectional T700 CFRP plate. The effects of varying cutting speed and tool wear pattern on the drilling performance are analyzed. The drilling performance is assessed in terms of hole quality by the qualitative and quantitative analysis of drilling-induced delamination and hole diameter. Furthermore, the correlation between the tool wear progression and the drilled hole quality is established. Through this assessment, a suitable set of drilling parameters, i.e., cutting speed of 9000 rpm and feed rate of 400 mm/min, is proposed for producing the best quality holes for multidirectional T700 CFRP plate. Full article

Surface coating is an effective approach to improve cutting tool performance, and multiple or gradient coating structures have become a common development strategy. However, composition mutations at the interfaces decrease the performance of multi-layered coatings. The key mitigation technique has been to reduce the interface effect at the boundaries. This study proposes a structure design method for property-component gradient coatings based on process control. The method produces coatings with high internal cohesion and high external hardness, which could reduce the composition and performance mutations at the interface. A ZrTiN property gradient ternary nitride coating was deposited on cemented carbide by multi-arc ion plating with separated Ti and Zr targets. The mechanical properties, friction behaviors, and cutting performances were systematically investigated, compared with a single-layer coating. The results indicated that the gradient coating had better friction and wear performance with lower wear rate and higher resistance to peeling off during sliding friction. The gradient coating had better wear and damage resistance in cutting processes, with lower machined surface roughness Ra. Gradient-structured coatings could effectively inhibit micro crack initiation and growth under alternating force and temperature load. This method could be extended to similar ternary nitride coatings. Full article