IP Library Granted Patent US 8,240,234
Granted Patent B2
US 8,240,234 · App. 12/251,247 · Granted Aug 14, 2012

Methods and systems for chip breaking in turning applications using CNC toolpaths

Assignees: University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Y-12, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,240,234
App. No.
12/251,247
Granted
Aug 14, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for chip breaking, controlling cutting tool wear, and the like in turning, boring, and other applications, including: engaging a workpiece with a cutting tool in a feed direction along a toolpath, superimposing an oscillation in the feed direction on the toolpath, and dynamically or non-dynamically varying the oscillation superimposed in the feed direction on the toolpath such that interrupted cuts and chips of a predetermined length or less are produced. These systems take full advantage of computer numerical control (CNC) methodologies.

Claims (35)

1. A computer numerical control-based method for chip breaking and the like in turning, boring, and other applications, comprising:

engaging a workpiece with a cutting tool in a feed direction along a toolpath; and

superimposing an oscillation in the feed direction on the toolpath such that one or more interrupted cuts and one or more chips are produced;

wherein the oscillation is determined based on at least chip length, workpiece surface finish, and machine dynamic capability; and

wherein a phase shift of the oscillation is varied between at least two successive rotations of the workpiece.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the workpiece comprises an axis.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the feed direction is one or more of parallel to, perpendicular to, and disposed at an angle to the axis of the workpiece.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oscillation superimposed in the feed direction on the toolpath comprises a waveform selected from the group consisting of a sinusoidal waveform, a regular waveform, an irregular waveform, and a random waveform.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising varying the phase of the waveform with one or more of time and workpiece position.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dynamically or non-dynamically varying the oscillation superimposed in the feed direction on the toolpath.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein dynamically or non-dynamically varying the oscillation superimposed in the feed direction on the toolpath comprises dynamically or non-dynamically varying one or more of an amplitude, a frequency, and the phase of the oscillation superimposed in the feed direction on the toolpath.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein dynamically or non-dynamically varying the oscillation superimposed in the feed direction on the toolpath comprises dynamically or non-dynamically varying the oscillation superimposed in the feed direction on the toolpath based on one or more of an inputted spindle speed, oscillation frequency, oscillation amplitude, cutting tool feed rate, workpiece geometry, part geometry, chip length, probability of producing a predetermined chip length, controller characteristic, machine characteristic, thermal consideration, cutting tool characteristic, part surface texture, residual stress factor, and fatigue life factor.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the toolpath is selected responsive to a part surface resulting from a previous toolpath.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is utilized to one or more of control cutting tool wear, manage cutting temperature, create a structured surface, and improve a surface finish.

11. A computer numerical control-based system for chip breaking and the like in turning, boring, and other applications, comprising:

a cutting tool for engaging a workpiece in a feed direction along a toolpath; and

a controller for superimposing an oscillation in the feed direction on the toolpath such that one or more interrupted cuts and one or more chips are produced;

wherein the oscillation is determined based on at least chip length, workpiece surface finish, and machine dynamic capability; and

wherein a phase shift of the oscillation is varied between at least two successive rotations of the workpiece.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the workpiece comprises an axis.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the feed direction is one or more of parallel to, perpendicular to, and disposed at an angle to the axis of the workpiece.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the oscillation superimposed in the feed direction on the toolpath comprises a waveform selected from the group consisting of a sinusoidal waveform, a regular waveform, an irregular waveform, and a random waveform.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising an algorithm for varying the phase of the waveform with one or more of time and workpiece position.

16. The system of claim 11 , further comprising an algorithm for dynamically or non-dynamically varying the oscillation superimposed in the feed direction on the toolpath.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein dynamically or non-dynamically varying the oscillation superimposed in the feed direction on the toolpath comprises dynamically or non-dynamically varying one or more of an amplitude, a frequency, and the phase of the oscillation superimposed in the feed direction on the toolpath.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein dynamically or non-dynamically varying the oscillation superimposed in the feed direction on the toolpath comprises dynamically or non-dynamically varying the oscillation superimposed in the feed direction on the toolpath based on one or more of an inputted spindle speed, oscillation frequency, oscillation amplitude, cutting tool feed rate, workpiece geometry, part geometry, chip length, probability of producing a predetermined chip length, controller characteristic, machine characteristic, thermal consideration, cutting tool characteristic, part surface texture, residual stress factor, and fatigue life factor.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the toolpath is selected responsive to a part surface resulting from a previous toolpath.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system is utilized to one or more of control cutting tool wear, manage cutting temperature, create a structured surface, and improve a surface finish.

21. A computer numerical control-based method for chip breaking and the like in turning, boring, and other applications, comprising:

engaging a workpiece with a cutting tool in a feed direction along a first toolpath segment; and

engaging the workpiece with the cutting tool in the feed direction along a second toolpath segment;

wherein an interaction of the first toolpath segment and the second toolpath segment results in one or more interrupted cuts and one or more chips being produced;

wherein the first toolpath segment and the second toolpath segment are determined based on at least chip length, workpiece surface finish, and machine dynamic capability; and

wherein a phase shift of the second toolpath segment is varied relative to a phase shift of the first toolpath segment.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the method is utilized to one or more of control cutting tool wear, manage cutting temperature, create a structured surface, and improve a surface finish.

Assignments (5)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jun 27, 2019
From: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 049611/0349 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2018
From: BABCOCK & WILCOX TECHNICAL SERVICES Y-12, LLC
To: CONSOLIDATED NUCLEAR SECURITY, LLC
Reel/Frame 047168/0279 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded May 27, 2010
From: B&W Y-12, LLC
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 024449/0040 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2008
From: BARKMAN, WILLIAM E.; BABELAY, EDWIN F., JR.
To: BABCOCK & WILCOX TECHNICAL SERVICES Y-12, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 021681/0892 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2008
From: WOODY, BETHANY A.; SMITH, KEVIN SCOTT; ADAMS, DAVID J.
To: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
Reel/Frame 021681/0930 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 60980276 · Oct 16, 2007
Related Publication 20090107308A1 · Apr 30, 2009