Determination of optimum cutter diameter for machining 2.5-O pockets

摘要

Tool paths in milling are calculated using user-defined values of the radial width of cut (b) and the cutter diameter (D). When calculating the other cutting parameters, most researchers and practising engineers assume that the ratio of the radial width of cut to the cutter diameter i.e. b/D remains constant over the entire tool path length. However, in practice, when machining pockets and many other features with window-frame type toolpaths, b/D does not remain constant. In this paper, the optimum cutter diameter is chosen following a consideration of the variation of b/D throughout the cutter path. It is shown that while a smaller cutter diameter gives a more favourable variation, it leads to a longer toolpath. Hence the final optimum cutter diameter is a compromise between the increased costs of a larger diameter with a shorter toolpath and the lower costs of a smaller diameter with a longer toolpath.