Papers by Author: Edouard Rivière-Lorphèvre

Abstract: The final aim of finite elements modelling is to help in the choice of the cutting parameters and in the comprehension of the involved phenomena. Representing correctly the behaviour of the machined material is hard due to the extreme conditions encountered, although this is a key parameter to develop a realistic model. Four laws are used in this paper to represent the Ti6Al4V. They are all based on the Johnson-Cook law. This study shows that the influence of the behaviour law is high on the chip morphology and on the forces and that the strain softening phenomenon should be taken into account. For the cutting conditions adopted, it is however necessary to add damage properties in the chip to obtain a morphology and a cutting force evolution close to the experimental reference.

Abstract: Micro-milling with a cutting tool is a manufacturing technique that allows production of parts ranging from several millimeters to several micrometers. The technique is based on a downscaling of macroscopic milling process. Micro-milling is one of the most effective process to produce complex three-dimensional micro-parts, including sharp edges and with a good surface quality. Reducing the dimensions of the cutter and the cutting conditions requires taking into account physical phenomena that can be neglected in macro-milling. These phenomena include a size effect (nonlinear rising of specific cutting force when chip thickness decreases), the minimum chip thickness (under a given dimension, no chip can be machined) and the heterogeneity of the material (the size of the grains composing the material is significant as compared to the dimension of the chip). The aim of this paper is to introduce some phenomena, appearing in micromilling, in the mechanistic dynamic simulation software ‘dystamill’ developed for macro-milling. The software is able to simulate the cutting forces, the dynamic behavior of the tool and the workpiece and the kinematic surface finish in 2D1/2 milling operation (slotting, face milling, shoulder milling,…). It can be used to predict chatter-free cutting condition for example. The mechanistic model of the cutting forces is deduced from the local FEM simulation of orthogonal cutting. This FEM model uses the commercial software ABAQUS and is able to simulate chip formation and cutting forces in an orthogonal cutting test. This model is able to reproduce physical phenomena in macro cutting conditions (including segmented chip) as well as specific phenomena in micro cutting conditions (minimum chip thickness and size effect). The minimum chip thickness is also taken into account by the global model. The results of simulation for the machining of titanium alloy Ti6Al4V under macro and micro milling condition with the mechanistic model are presented discussed. This approach connects together local machining simulation and global models.

Abstract: The foundations of micro-milling are similar to macro-milling but the phenomena it involves are not a simple scaling-down of macro-cutting. The importance of the minimum chip thickness is one of the significant differences between the two processes. The lagrangian FEM model presented in this paper aims to study the depth of cut influence on chip formation of Ti6Al4V in orthogonal cutting. It is firstly used to compare the modelled saw-toothed macro-chip morphology and cutting forces to experimental cutting results from literature. Then a minimum chip thickness prediction is performed by decreasing the depth of cut. Finally this study is the opportunity to highlight the specific features of micro-cutting reported in literature, such as the effective negative rake angle of the tool or the size effect. The model presented brings therefore a numerical contribution to the comprehension of these phenomena.