Stability prediction for low radial immersion milling

Traditional regenerative stability theory predicts a set of optimally stable spindle speeds at integer fractions of the natural frequency of the most flexible mode of the system. The assumptions of this theory, become invalid for highly interrupted machining, where the ratio of time spent cutting to not cutting (denoted rho) is small. This paper proposes a new stability theory for interrupted machining that predicts a doubling in the number of optimally stable speeds as the value of rho becomes small. The results of the theory, are supported by numerical simulation and experiment. It is anticipated that the theory will be relevant for choosing optimal machining parameters in high-speed peripheral Milling operations where the radial depth of cut is only a small fraction of the tool diameter.