Investigation of the Cutting Forces and Tool Wear in Laser Assisted Milling of Ti6Al4V Alloy

The current investigation evaluates laser assisted machining, which uses an external laser beam to heat and soften the material to be machined locally in front of the cutting tool and offers an alternative approach to improving the machinability of titanium alloys. By reducing the cutting resistance, the cutting tool sees less pressure and life is enhanced. This paper reports on the cutting forces and tool life during laser assisted milling of Ti6Al4V alloy. Cutting forces, especially the force in the feed direction, reduce dramatically with laser beam assistance. The reduction of feed force depends on the laser power, depth of cut and cutting speed. This paper also discusses the major tool failure mode observed during both conventional and laser assisted milling operations.