FEM analysis to optimally design end mill cutters for milling of Ti-6Al-4V

This paper presents an FEM analysis conducted for optimally designing end mill cutters through verifying the cutting tool forces and stresses for milling Titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V. Initially, the theoretical tool forces are calculated by considering the cutting edge on a cutting tool as the curve of an intersection over a spherical/flat surface based on the model developed by Lee & Altinas [1]. Considering the lowest tool forces the cutting tool parameters are taken and optimal design of end mill is decided for different sizes. Then the 3D CAD models of the end mills are developed and used for Finite Element Method to verify the cutting forces for milling Ti-6Al-4V. The cutting tool forces, stress, strain concentration (s), tool wear, and temperature of the cutting tool with the different geometric shapes are simulated considering Ti-6Al-4V as work piece material. Finally, the simulated and theoretical values are compared and the optimal design of cutting tool for different sizes are validated. The present approach considers to improve the quality of machining surface and tool life with effects of the various parameters concerning the oblique cutting process namely axial, radial and tangential forces. Various simulated test cases are presented to highlight the approach on optimally designing end mill cutters.