Towards energy management during the machining of titanium alloys

The manufacturing industry needs to address challenges as regards to the machining process in the multifaceted context of sustainability. The current cost of energy and the reduction in material reserves highlights the need for machining systems to be more energy-efficient. This paper aims to provide a systematic overview of advanced approaches to manage energy and resource efficiency in cutting operations. The research experimentation focuses on the machining of a selected titanium alloy, Ti6Al4V, using carbide cutting tools. Tool wear, chip formation, cutting force and energy use were measured and analysed for selected cutting parameters. The experimental results illustrate the importance of selecting optimum cutting parameters and machining strategy. The results further help to define the boundary conditions for the various input parameters. Future research is also discussed

Investigating the energy efficiency and surface integrity when machining titanium alloys

CITATION: Tayisepi, N., Laubscher, R. F. & Oosthuizen, G. A. 2016. Investigating the energy efficiency and surface integrity when machining titanium alloys. In Competitive Manufacturing, International Conference on Competitive Manufacturing (COMA '16), 27-29 January 2016, Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.The original publication is available at http://conferences.sun.ac.za/index.php/doie/coma16Sustainable manufacturing strategies will need to address the resource efficiency and surface quality challenges in cutting processes. This paper aims to provide a systematic methodology for modelling the input and outputs of a turning process to find the best balance between production rate and input cost, while improving or adhering to the quality standards. Ti6Al4V were cut under flood cooling using carbide cutting tools and a Taguchi design of experiments was used with ANOVA. Surface integrity and energy use were measured and analysed for selected cutting parameters. The experimental results highlighted the importance of selecting optimum cutting parameters and machining strategy. More energy was consumed at lower cutting parameters, whilst higher feed rates resulted in less energy consumption, but lower surface finish quality. These results will also assist to define the boundary conditions for various input parameters.Publisher's versio