Title: A cryo lubri-coolant approach for finish milling of aeronautical hard-to-cut materials

Authors: Octavio Pereira; Adrián Rodríguez; Izaro Ayesta; Joaquín Barreiro García; Ana Isabel Fernández-Abia; Luis Norberto López De Lacalle

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of The Basque Country (UPV/EHU), C/ Alameda de Urquijo s/n, Bilbao, E-48013, Spain; Department of Mechanical, Computer and Aerospace Engineering, University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, León, E-24071, Spain ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of The Basque Country (UPV/EHU), C/ Alameda de Urquijo s/n, Bilbao, E-48013, Spain ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of The Basque Country (UPV/EHU), C/ Alameda de Urquijo s/n, Bilbao, E-48013, Spain ' Department of Mechanical, Computer and Aerospace Engineering, University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, León, E-24071, Spain ' Department of Mechanical, Computer and Aerospace Engineering, University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, León, E-24071, Spain ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of The Basque Country (UPV/EHU), C/ Alameda de Urquijo s/n, Bilbao, E-48013, Spain

Abstract: Use of heat-resistant alloys is growing worldwide in aeronautical turbo-machinery industry. One of the most used materials is Inconel 718. This material is featured by high resistance to corrosion and oxidation while keeping good mechanical properties at high temperature. However, low machinability of this material results in poor material removal rates and premature tool wear, among other drawbacks. Consequently, mineral cutting fluids are injected in the cutting zone in order to improve machining. However, today's environmental consciousness leads us to propose the cryoMQL technology as an ecological alternative. In order to achieve better results when milling Inconel 718, a CO₂ cryogenic regulation system and a nozzle adaptor have been developed to use cryoMQL and a comparative analysis is performed with regard to other coolant alternatives.

Keywords: Inconel 718 milling; cryogenic machining; CO2 machining; carbon dioxide; CryoMQL; minimum quantity lubrication; computational fluid dynamics; CFD; coolants; finish milling; aeronautical materials; hard-to-cut materials; turbomachinery.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMS.2016.082872

International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems, 2016 Vol.9 No.4, pp.370 - 384

Received: 07 Nov 2015
Accepted: 29 Jul 2016
Published online: 14 Mar 2017 *

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