Tool wear evaluation by vibration analysis during end milling of AISI D3 cold work tool steel with 35 HRC hardness

In this study, the relationship between vibration and tool wear was investigated during end milling. For this purpose, a series of experiment were conducted in a vertical milling machine. An indexable CBN insert and AISI D3 cold work tool steel hardened to 35 HRC were used as material twin in the experiments. The vibration was measured only in the machining direction, which has more dominant signals than in the other two directions. The measurements were taken by using an acceleration sensor assembled on a machinery analyzer. Tool wear was measured by a toolmaker's microscope. It was observed that there was an increase in vibration amplitude with increasing tool wears. This situation was evident especially by monitoring vibration of displacement type. It was also observed that the first three multiplies of tooth passing frequency (1 x, 2 x, 3 x) gave the best information about the tool wear. Results showed that there was no considerable increase in the vibration amplitude until a flank wear value of 160 mu m was reached, above which the vibration amplitude increased significantly. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.