Numerical Optimization of the System Supplying the Cooling and Lubricating Fluid to the Cutting Zone

摘要

The article presents the numerical optimization of an innovative and original design that allows to supply the cutting fluid (CF) through the cutting tool directly into the cutting zone during the gear hobbing. The main task of this solution is to increase the efficiency of CF reaching into the contact zone of the active cutting edge of the hob cutter with the workpiece, and consequently extending the tool life. This is extremely important from the viewpoint of machining efficiency, which translates into a reduction in manufacturing costs. In order to reduce costly workshop tests, a preliminary CAD design was made in the Autodesk Inventor program, followed by numerical simulations of the flow of cutting fluid in the ANSYS CFX program. Geometric values that were changing during the numerical optimization of the new construction's working conditions were: diameters of the CF supply openings to the cutting zone (d= 1 mm and 2 mm), the inclination angle of CF supply openings (α= 0° and 15°), number of supply rows (n = 2 and 3). The result of numerical analysis of the flow was the pressure loss in the entire system of the optimized structure.