The Effect of the Use of Cutting Zone Minimum Quantity Lubrication and Wiper Geometry Inserts on Titanium Ti6Al4V Surface Quality After Turning

Abstract

Due to their poor machinability, the machining of titanium alloys without a machining fluid is practically impossible. One of the fluid feeding methods, which is also eco-friendly, is minimum quantity lubrication (MQL). This paper presents the results of research into the dry and MQL-assisted machining of alloy Ti-6Al-4V. In the literature on the subject, there are studies on the influence of MQL on tool life, cutting forces, and the most commonly used roughness parameters Ra and Rz. In this paper, MQL's impact on the values of parameters Rq, Rt, Rp, Rv, Rsk, and Rku is shown. In addition, the possibility of improving the surface quality of the selected titanium alloy using wiper geometry inserts combined with MQL is assessed. The exemplary images of the surface, machined using tools of conventional and wiper geometry, in dry and MQL conditions are also shown. Thanks to the wide range of the measured and analysed roughness parameters the results presented in this paper provide a basis for a comprehensive assessment of the geometric and functional features of the surface of alloy Ti-6Al-4V after dry and MQL-assisted turning.

Keywords

• titanium
• cutting zone cooling and lubrication
• insert geometry
• surface roughness