Influence of argon pollution on the weld surface morphology

In this paper the surfaces of butt welded joints in steel tubes were analyzed using an optical 3D measurement system to determine the morphology and topographic parameters. It was established that pollution of the argon shield gas with oxygen did not influence the width of the heat-affected zone. However, the composition of the shield gas significantly influenced the surface asymmetry, Ssk, and its inclination Sku. The measurement of these parameters enabled the selection of a higher quality surface, which was visually proven by the reduction in discoloration of the surface of the weld joint. High quality surfaces eliminate a potential habitat for bacteria and a future source of corrosion as well as providing less resistance to fluid flow

Optimisation of machining parameters during ball end milling of hardened steel with various surface inclinations

This paper proposes a method for the reduction of forces and the improvement of efficiency during finish ball end milling of hardened 55NiCrMoV6 steel. The primary objective of this work concentrates on the optimal selection of milling parameters (cutting speed – vc, surface inclination angle α), which enables the simultaneous minimisation of cutting force values and increased process efficiency. The research includes the measurement of cutting forces (Fx, Fy, Fz) during milling tests with variable input parameters and calculation of process efficiency accounting for cutting parameters and surface inclination. The paper then focuses on the multi-criteria optimisation of the ball end milling process in terms of cutting forces and efficiency. This procedure is carried out with the application of the response surface method, based on the minimisation of a total utility function. The work shows that surface inclination angle has a significant influence on the cutting force values. Minimal cutting forces and relative high efficiency can be achieved with cutting speed vc = 375 m/min and surface inclination angle α = 15°

Precision surface characterization for finish cylindrical milling with dynamic tool displacements model

In this work a new approach to surface roughness parameters estimation during finish cylindrical end milling is presented. The proposed model includes the influence of cutting parameters, the tool’s static run out and dynamic phenomena related to instantaneous tool deflections. The modeling procedure consists of two parts. In the first stage, tool working part instantaneous displacements are estimated using an analytical model which considers tool dynamic deflections and static errors of the machine – tool-holder – tool system. The obtained height of the tool’s displacement envelope is then applied in the second stage to the calculation of surface roughness parameters. These calculations assume that in the cylindrical milling process, two different mechanisms of surface profile formation exist. Which mechanism is present is dependent on the feed per tooth and the maximum height of the tool’s displacement envelope. The developed model is validated during cylindrical milling of hardened hot-work tool steel 55NiCrMoV6 using a stylus profiler and scanning laser vibrometer over a range of cutting parameters. The surface roughness values predicted by the developed model are in good agreement with measured values. It is found that the employment of a model which includes only the effect of static displacements gives an inferior estimation of surface roughness compared to the model incorporating dynamic tool deflection

Measurements of the friction coefficient: discussion on the results in the framework of the time series analysis

Tribology studies the interaction between surfaces in relative motion with a particular focus on the principles of friction, wear and lubrication. The measurement of the friction coefficient (COF) is extremely sensitive to experimental friction force fluctuations thus making COF direct measurement not a trivial task. In this manuscript, a novel approach toward the understanding of the friction coefficient behavior during reciprocating tests is proposed. The proposed procedure represents a first approach for a deep investigation about measured COF distribution during tribological tests. It is based on the analysis of COF data measured during the tests in the framework of time series analysis and it was applied to several real tests in dry-friction showed as example of application. Output parameters (i.e., friction, traction force) were investigated to detect trends, connected to running-in period of the tribo-couple, seasonal, connected to the periodicity induced from reciprocating motion, and residual components. After “smoothing” the COF data set by removing the trend and seasonal components, the residual component was analyzed to check the stationary of the COF data set which represents the most characteristic interval in friction measurements