Title: Effect of straight and circular tool paths in micro channel fabrication using micro-milling

Authors: Alwin Varghese; Suhas S. Joshi

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India

Abstract: Micro-milling can generate micro molds involving complex shapes rapidly as compared to other micro machining techniques. Researchers thoroughly investigated different aspects of micro-milling with straight tool paths. This paper investigates the effect of tool paths on cutting forces, tool wear and top burrs generated in micro-milling using straight and circular tool paths for micro channel fabrication. Micro-milling experiments were carried out to understand the effect of tool paths at two levels of cutting parameter values. It was observed that the tool wear rate in micro-milling along a circular tool path is more compared to that of straight tool path. Consequently, the cutting forces, top burrs and surface roughness were found to be more in circular tool paths. The flank wear rate in micro-milling along the circular tool path was estimated to be 70.9 μm/m and 84.1 μm/m for lower and higher levels of cutting parameters, respectively. However, the flank wear rate along the straight tool path was 57.24 μm/m and 62.8 μm/m for lower and higher levels of cutting parameters, respectively.

Keywords: straight tool path; circular tool path; top burrs; tool wear.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTECH.2021.116798

International Journal of Precision Technology, 2021 Vol.10 No.1, pp.87 - 103

Received: 18 Nov 2020
Accepted: 26 Feb 2021
Published online: 02 Aug 2021 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article