Global dynamics of low immersion high-speed milling

In the case of low immersion high-speed milling, the ratio of time spent cutting to not cutting can be considered as a small parameter. In this case the classical regenerative vibration model of machine tool vibrations reduces to a simplified discrete mathematical model. The corresponding stability charts contain stability boundaries related to period doubling and Neimark-Sacker bifurcations. The subcriticality of both types of bifurcations is proved in this paper. Further, global period-2 orbits are found and analyzed. In connection with these orbits, the existence of chaotic motion is demonstrated for realistic high-speed milling parameters. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.