Search Results (4)

Nomex honeycomb composites (NHCs) are commonly used in various industrial sectors such as aerospace and automotive sectors due to their excellent material properties. However, when machining this type of structure, problems can arise due to significant cutting forces and unwanted cell vibrations. In order to remedy these shortcomings, this study proposes to integrate RUM (rotary ultrasonic machining) technology, which consists of applying ultrasonic vibrations along the axis of rotation of the cutter. To fully understand the milling process by ultrasonic vibrations of the NHC structure, a 3D numerical finite element model is developed using Abaqus/Explicit software. The results of the comparative analysis between the components of the simulated cutting forces and those from the experiment indicate a close agreement between the developed model and the experimental results. Based on the developed numerical model, this study comprehensively analyzes the influence of the ultrasonic vibration amplitude on various aspects, such as stress distribution in the cutting zone, chip size, the quality of the machined surface and the components of the cutting force. Ultimately, the results demonstrate that the application of ultrasonic vibrations leads to a reduction of up to 50% in the components of the cutting force, as well as an improvement in the quality of the machined surface and a reduction in the size of chips. Full article

Nomex honeycomb composite (NHC) cores have seen significant growth in recent years, particularly in the aeronautics, aerospace, naval and automotive industries. This development presents significant challenges in terms of improving machining quality, requiring the use of specialized cutting tools and favorable cutting techniques. In this context, experimental studies have been carried out to highlight the characteristics of the milling of NHCs by rotary ultrasonic machining (RUM). However, the rapid motion of the cutting tool and the inaccessibility of the tool/part interface prevent the visualization of the chip formation process. For this purpose, a three-dimensional numerical model for milling the NHC structure using RUM technology was developed by Abaqus Explicit software. On the basis of this model, the components of the cutting force, the quality of the machined surface and the chip accumulation in front of the cutting tool were analyzed. The numerical results agree with the experimental tests, demonstrating that the use of RUM technology effectively reduces the cutting force components. An in-depth analysis of the influence of feed component F_y on the quality of the generated surface was carried out, revealing that the surface quality improved with low values of feed component F_y. Furthermore, the impact of ultrasonic vibrations on the accumulation of chips in front of the cutting tool is particularly optimized, in particular for large amplitudes. Full article

Honeycomb composites (HCs) are diversely employed in aerospace, national defense and other fields owing to their remarkable spatial geometry and excellent mechanical properties. Their complex hexagonal cell structure and heterogeneous material properties cause major problems when implementing high-quality processing. Surface defects generated by processing will reduce the capability and service lifespan of the honeycomb sandwich structure. Therefore, the high quality of HCs is a topic of close attention for researchers. In this paper, the consequences of different cutting parameters of rotary ultrasonic machining (RUM) on surface quality with an ultrasonic circular knife (UCK) were studied through multiple groups of single-factor and orthogonal experiments with two-factors/four-levels and one-factor/three-levels. The single factor experiment was used to explain the effect that the degree of cutting parameters has on surface quality, and the orthogonal experiments were applied to explain the interaction between the processing parameters and the influence law of each factor on surface quality. Therefore, the reasonable cutting parameters of HCs were determined through experimental results to provide guidance for the realization of the precise and efficient machining of HCs. This study can provide a basis for the subsequent comprehensive consideration of various factors to achieve high-quality machining of HCs. Full article

Micromachining has gained considerable interest across a wide range of applications. It ensures the production of microfeatures such as microchannels, micropockets, etc. Typically, the manufacturing of microchannels in bioceramics is a demanding task. The ubiquitous technologies, laser beam machining (LBM) and rotary ultrasonic machining (RUM), have tremendous potential. However, again, these machining methods do have inherent problems. LBM has issues concerning thermal damage, high surface roughness, and vulnerable dimensional accuracy. Likewise, RUM is associated with high machining costs and low material-removal rates. To overcome their limits, a synthesis of LBM and RUM processes known as laser rotary ultrasonic machining (LRUM) has been conceived. The bioceramic known as biolox forte was utilized in this investigation. The approach encompasses the exploratory study of the effects of fundamental input process parameters of LBM and RUM on the surface quality, machining time, and dimensional accuracy of the manufactured microchannels. The performance of LRUM was analyzed and the mechanism of LRUM tool wear was also investigated. The results revealed that the surface roughness, depth error, and width error is decreased by 88%, 70%, and 80% respectively in the LRUM process. Moreover, the machining time of LRUM is reduced by 85%. Full article