Modelling of tooth trajectory and process geometry in peripheral milling of curved surfaces

The paper presents modelling of tooth trajectory and process geometry in peripheral milling of curved surfaces. The paper differs from previous work in this area, in two respects. Firstly it deals with milling of variable curvature geometries unlike zero and constant curvature geometries dealt in the past. Secondly true tooth trajectories are considered for modelling process geometry in milling of curved surfaces instead of simpler circular tooth trajectories. Mathematical expressions for, feed per tooth along cutter contact path, entry and exits angles of tooth, undeformed chip thickness and surface error are derived and effect of workpiece curvature on these variables is studied. As cutting forces depend on these process variables, physical experiments were also performed to study the effect of workpiece curvature on cutting forces. Process simulation experiments carried out show the need for modelling true tooth trajectories instead of circular tooth trajectories particularly for curved geometries. Results also show that using simpler constant curvature models to variable curvature geometries for the purpose of estimation of process geometry variables could be erroneous. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.