Modeling of Ball-End Milling Forces With Cutter Axis Inclination

Abstract

In the machining of sculpture surfaces with ball-end mill, the cutter axis or workpiece is often inclined to generate an admissible orientation. This paper primarily presents an enhanced cutting force model for ball-end milling with cutter axis inclination. It involves the kinematic reasoning of cutting edge geometry, local helix angle and average chip thickness followed by the analysis of effects of axis inclination in the contact zone between cutter and workpiece. Thereupon, development of the analytical force model for inclined-axis machining is achieved using cutter angle domain convolution method. Experimental evaluation of the model is discussed, and experimental results and model predictions under various cutting conditions are compared in the frequency as well as in the angular domain. [S1087-1357(00)70601-0]