3.1 Machining forces
The cutting force Fc and the feed force Ff were measured during cutting experiments. Thrust force was not taken into account because of the configuration of tests (orthogonal cutting). The values of force components were determined by the difference between the signals average during cutting and the signals average during non-cutting as shown on Fig. 3.
Figure 4 compares mean cutting force (Fc), mean feed force (Ff) and the ratio Ff /Fc of non-textured and textured tools when turning aluminium alloy. Error bars presented on data show the variability of the stated mean value. The results indicate that cutting force is similar between the non-textured tool and tools textured with nanometric grooves (LIPSS) and micrometric grooves. A cutting force reduced by 6.9% is observed for the tool textured with double-scale structure. The feed force increases for all textured tools compared to non-textured one. For the initial tool, feed force is equal to 41 ± 1 N whereas for textured tools with nanometric grooves (LIPSS), micrometric grooves, double-scale structure (LIPSS + Dimples), feed force is equal to 88 ± 12 N, 48 ± 1 N and 53 ± 1 N respectively. The ratio Ff /Fc is greater for textured tools compared to non-textured tool. A part of contact area between rake face and chip is an aluminum/aluminum contact, which is likely to modify the friction conditions and the feed force. It can be a factor which explains greater values of feed force.
3.2 Flank face wear
After cutting tests, flank wear was characterized according Vb criteria defined in ISO norm NF3685. Six measurements of width Vb were noted as shown on Fig. 5. Since flank face is in contact with final machined surface, it is important to have minimum wear on this face. Table 4 presents flank wear data for textured and non-textured tools. Since period of machining is not similar between the four tested tools and in order to have comparable values of flank wear width for each tested tools, flank wear width per minute for textured and non-textured tools is plotted and presented on Fig. 6. Flank wear width evolution related to cutting time is assumed linear. In fact, no rapid degradation or cutting edge degradation was observed during our tests. Therefore, we assumed to be in a linear zone. Error bars show the variability between six measurements of Vb for each tested tool.
Textured tools with nanometric structure (LIPSS) and double-scale structure (LIPSS + Dimples) reduce flank wear width by 91.5% and 79.7% respectively compared to a non-textured tool. Whereas tool with micrometric grooves increases flank wear width compared to a non-textured and non-coated tool. So rake face structuring has an influence on controlling flank face wear. This assessment is relatively new, only Zhang et al. pointed out experimentally a link between rake face structuring and flank wear control when structuring a coated tool rake face for stainless steel cutting but without giving any explanations [14].
Table 4
Average flank wear as a function of cutting durations for each tested tool
Type of structure | Non-textured tool | LIPSS (nano-) | Lines (micro-) | LIPSS + Dimples |
Tc (s) | 70 | 330 | 40 | 330 |
Vb (µm) | 67 | 27 | 111 | 64 |
Vb rate (µm/min) | 57.7 | 4.9 | 166.7 | 11.7 |
3.3 Rake face wear
Figure 7 shows SEM images of non-textured and textured tools rake faces after cutting tests. These images reveal that there is adhesion of aluminium on rake faces. Microtextures namely lines and dimples were buried by aluminium and LIPSS were destroyed. Figure 8 presents 3D images and average 2D profiles of worn rake faces realized according to major direction of chip flow along cutting edge. Average profiles were extracted from 1366 profiles made from 3D surfaces for all tested tools except tool textured with LIPSS + Dimples (discontinuous structure) where presented profile is one that is the most representative of worn rake face. The average profile of non-textured tool rake face shows a high adhesion situated from 250 to 500 µm from the cutting edge and reaching a height of adhesion of 3 µm. While a lower adhesion on the tool textured with LIPSS is observed near cutting edge till 300 µm with a maximum height of adhesion of 1.5 µm. Regarding tool textured with micrometric grooves, first lines were buried until 400 µm from cutting edge. Concerning tool textured with LIPSS + Dimples, an adhesion area is observed from 250 µm until 500 µm from cutting edge. An additional test done with a structured cutting tool with LIPSS, Fig. 9 shows rake face of tested tool after aluminium turning. Therefore, among all tested tools in this study, nanometric structure shows anti-adhesive properties when machining aluminium alloy.
3.4 Chip analysis
At the end of cutting experiments, chip thickness was measured to estimate and compare shear angle and chip contact length for non-textured and textured tools. Six values of thickness were measured removing the starting and the ending part of chips. Equations presented below, based on Merchant’s model, permitted to calculate shear angle and contact chip length values. In fact, Merchant described in his model the continuous chips formation in orthogonal cutting [17].
The chip compression ratio rc can be defined in Eq. 1 as:
$${r}_{c}=\frac{{t}_{0}}{{t}_{1}}=\frac{Undeformed chip thickness \left(feedrate\right)}{Deformed chip thickness}$$
1
The shear angle Φ, predicted by the Merchant’s model, can be expressed in Eq. 2 as and represented in Fig. 10 [18]:
$$\varPhi =\text{a}\text{r}\text{c}\text{t}\text{a}\text{n}\left(\frac{{r}_{c}\text{c}\text{o}\text{s}\left(\gamma \right)}{1-{r}_{c}\text{s}\text{i}\text{n}\left(\gamma \right)}\right)$$
2
where rc is the chip compression ratio and γ the rake angle of the tool.
The friction angle β is given by Eq. 3:
$$\beta ={r}_{c}+artcan\left(\frac{{F}_{f}}{{F}_{c}}\right)$$
3
where rc is the chip compression ratio, Ff the feed force and Fc the cutting force.
The chip contact length is calculated using expression in Eq. 4:
$${l}_{c}=\frac{{t}_{0}\text{s}\text{i}\text{n}(\varPhi +\beta -\gamma )}{\text{sin}\left(\varPhi \right)\text{c}\text{o}\text{s}\left(\varPhi \right)}$$
4
where t0 is the undeformed chip thickness, Φ the shear angle, β the friction angle and γ the rake angle of the tool.
Figure 11 presents chip compression ratio and shear angle for each tested tool. An average ratio rc (Eq. 1) is represented from six measurements of chip thickness. The tool textured with micrometric grooves produces a larger shear angle with an increase of 8.1% in comparison with the conventional cutting tool. This can be because micrometric grooves are much longer than cut width, which could be helpful for the cutting fluid to come into the tool chip interference.
Regarding tools textured with nanometric grooves and double scale structure, they produce a lower shear angle compared with the reference with a decrease of 4.4% and 40.3% respectively. For this experimental configuration, it is difficult to affirm the ability of cutting fluid to come into tool chip interference because employed cooling system consists of spraying lubricant in the contact between work material and tool and the coolant speed is less than chip rolling speed. Moreover, cutting speed affects the ability of the cutting fluid to come directly into tool chip interference.
Figure 12 presents the chip contact lengths vs Ff /Fc ratios for initial cutting tool and textured ones. There is a linear evolution between chip contact length and Ff /Fc ratio. The tool textured with nanometric grooves (LIPSS) presents the highest macro friction coefficient and the greatest chip contact length.
A high Ff /Fc ratio for textured tool with LIPSS can be explained by the contact pressure at tool/chip interface which is important. The tool textured with LIPSS + Dimples shows a lower Ff /Fc ratio and lc than tool textured with LIPSS. Dimples trap lubricant except the first ones near to cutting edge which are in a higher pressure zone and are buried by aluminium. Concerning chip contact length and Ff /Fc ratio, the relative gap between tool textured with LIPSS and tool textured with LIPSS + Dimples is the added value of dimples which trap lubricant.