Formation of segmented chips in semi-finish turning of α-Titanium Alloy BT5

摘要

Machining is gradually giving way to alternative manufacturing methods for titanium components. Although powder metallurgy based methods are more complicated and expensive, they are gaining more ground because of the difficulty of machining titanium due to its low thermal conductivity. Moreover documented information on research works on titanium remains so limited in comparison with steel and aluminium. This paper highlights the importance of titanium based alloys, its properties and areas of application as well as its major classifications. A typical case of semi-finish turning of α-titanium BT5 alloy is also presented. Results of chip root examination based on the application of a quick-stop mechanism with about 1lm/s withdrawal speed to freeze the cutting operation is also presented, thereby highlighting some main features that are peculiar to the chip formation in titanium as compared with other materials.