Papers by Author: David K. Aspinwall

Abstract: Following a review on the machinability of CFRP composites and multilayer stacks typically comprising metallic and composite material elements, the paper details experimental results when drilling 30 mm thick titanium/CFRP/aluminium workpiece stacks. Testing utilised a modified fractional factorial design based on an L18 Taguchi orthogonal array. This comprised four factors, three of which were at three levels and one at two levels and involved tool coating, cutting speed, feed rate and machining environment. Tools evaluated involved hardmetal and diamond coated carbide in addition to uncoated tungsten carbide drills. Response variables were principally tool wear and cutting force/torque with an end of test criteria of 300m flank wear. Peeling of the CVD diamond coating occurred within the first several holes drilled however this was not a limiting factor in terms of tool life. Principal damage occurred when drilling through the titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) rather than the aluminium (Al 7050) or CFRP (unidirectional “UD” laminates) sections. Best tool life/performance (310 drilled holes) was obtained with the more conventional uncoated carbide drills at lower cutting speed and feed rate. Typically thrust forces increased from 300 N for the first hole to ~2200 N for last hole drilled while torque values were generally below 600 N.cm for worn tools.

Abstract: Micro milling is gaining ground as the preferred process for the manufacture of micro/meso-scale components in conventional workpiece materials, in particular for miniature moulds and tooling inserts (~ 60HRC), for the plastics injection moulding industry. Following a brief literature review on microscale milling and associated machine tool/tooling developments, experimental results are presented in relation to spindle thermal growth for a compensated/cooled spindle operating at up to 60,000 rpm, designed to accommodate the machining of meso-scale/micro-scale components. The work involved investigation of spindle warm up and cool down rates for speeds ranging from 30,000 - 60,000 rpm and subsequently the evaluation of spindle growth using both non-contact and contact measuring systems. Growth levels of up to 16µm were detected despite active spindle cooling and the incorporation of a standard compensation algorithm within the control system. Modification to spindle acceleration and deceleration rates reduced error levels by up to 50%.