Intelligent Process Planning System for End-milling Process (2nd Report)

This paper deals with a decision method of cutting conditions and tool life estimation method for end-milling processes of plain carbon steel. Basic cutting conditions for side cutting of a step, one of the most basic milling processes, are chosen from the database given by a cutting tool manufacturer. These data are transformed for individual milling processes, e.g. trochoidal grooving, spiral hole enlarging, and corner milling, such that constant cutting force is kept by using feedforward control. Cutting tests were conducted for the workpiece composed of various cutting features, and it was clarified that adequate cutting conditions and adequate tool life are simply decided using by this method.