On stability prediction for milling

Stability of 2-dof milling is investigated. Stability boundaries are predicted by the zeroth order approximation (ZOA) and the semi-discretization (SD) methods. While similar for high radial immersions, predictions of the two methods grow considerably different as radial immersion is decreased. The most prominent difference is an additional type of instability causing periodic chatter which is predicted only by the SD method. Experiments confirm predictions of the SD method, revealing three principal types of tool motion: periodic chatter-free, quasi-periodic chatter and periodic chatter, as well as some special chatter cases. Tool deflections recorded during each of these motion types are studied in detail. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.