Performance of cryogenically treated WC drill using tool wear measurements on the cutting edge and hole surface topography when drilling CFRP

摘要

Drilling CFRP poses major challenges from the perspective of rapid tool wear and poor hole quality, with the development of higher strength fibers further accentuating these problems. Cryogenic treatment is one way of increasing tool hardness thereby improving tool life and hole quality through longer retention of cutting edge sharpness. In this study, tool wear is monitored by measuring flank wear, cutting edge flatting (CEF), peak flatting (PF) and cutting edge surface roughness (CESR). While flank wear is unable to distinguish the better performance of the cryo-treated drill from the untreated drill, the other wear parameters are able to account for the better hole quality (exit delamination) produced by this drill. CEF and PF are direct measures of the extent of cutting edge blunting unlike flank wear which measures wear along the flank due to rubbing. Fiber pullout is the primary reason for deterioration in surface finish and Rz and Rv are better measures than Ra in estimating surface quality.