PREDICTION OF CHIP MORPHOLOGY IN ORTHOGONAL CUTTING BY MEANS OF A CUSTOMIZED FINITE ELEMENT CODE

摘要

According to the reported results it is possible to derive the following conclusions: 1. the customized FEM code has demonstrated a satisfactory predictive capability as far as the cutting forces and the chip geometry are concerned; 2. the validity of such statement is founded both on the qualitative comparison of the chip shapes all over the simulations set and on the quantitative comparison of the segment spacing vs. maximum chip thickness ratios. For the future a more extensive study on the local variables affecting the contact interface between tool and workpiece will be planned. In particular, the variables that want to be addressed are the stress and temperature distributions on the rake face of the tool. This knowledge will help in the tool wear prediction and, as a consequence, in the definition of the optimal tool life.