Improving the Performance of Steel Machining Processes through Cutting by Vibration Control

Machining processes through cutting are accompanied by dynamic phenomena that influence the quality of the processed surfaces. Thus, this research aimed to design, make, and use a tool with optimal functional geometry, which allowed a reduction of the dynamic phenomena that occur in the cutting process. In order to carry out the research, the process of cutting by front turning with transversal advance was taken into account. Additionally, semi-finished products with a diameter of Ø = 150 mm made of C45 steel were chosen for processing (1.0503). The manufacturing processes were performed with the help of two tools: a cutting tool, the classic construction version, and another that was the improved construction version. In the first stage of the research, an analysis was made of the vibrations that appear in the cutting process when using the two types of tools. Vibration analysis considered the following: use of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method, application of the Short-Time Fourier-Transformation (STFT) method, and observation of the acceleration of vibrations recorded during processing. After the vibration analysis, the roughness of the surfaces was measured and the parameter Ra was taken into account, but a series of diagrams were also drawn regarding the curved profiles, filtered profiles, and Abbott-Firestone curve. The research showed that use of the tool that is the improved constructive variant allows accentuated reduction of vibrations correlated with an improvement of the quality of the processed surfaces.