Advanced cutting conditions for the milling of aeronautical alloys

This paper deals with possible improvement aspects on the chip cutting milling of two alloys that are used frequently in the aerospace industry, in particular the titanium alpha-beta-based alloy Ti6Al4V and the nickel alloy usually known as type 718. Both alloys are used widely in the manufacture of different turbo-engine parts, considering their excellent mechanic features, and their resistance to high temperatures. These alloys, however, are extremely difficult to be milled, due to different factors, which are analysed later in this paper. For of this reason, their milling, drilling, and turning are carried out at very low speeds and feeds. This paper studies the tool influence as to its geometry and coating, and as to the parameters of the process (i.e. cutting speed, tooth feed, and depth of radial cut), looking for an increase in the productivity of the milling process. The cutting conditions thus searched for are successful in increasing the efficiency in the milling of actual parts in this field. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.