Study on vibration cutting by using piezo-electric actuators

The characteristics of vibration cutting, that is, the effects of vibration frequency and amplitude on the reduction of cutting force are evaluated theoretically and examined experimentally. New vibration device equipped with two piezo-electric actuators has been designed and used in experiments. The cutting tool is vibrated in the direction normal to principal cutting force and thrust force by the actuators. The vibration cutting is applied to cutting-off operations of the workpieces of mild steel and aluminum. The reduction of cutting force and the adhesion of chip to the cutting tool, and the improvement of surface roughness of machined surface are examined in experiments, It has become clear that 1) the cutting force decreases to 50-60% by using the vibration tool, 2) in the cutting of aluminum, the chip flows smoothly and the Cutting force does not increase duo to the tool vibration, and 3) the surface roughness of machined parts is improved.