Convolution Analysis of Milling Force Pulsation

George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0405 This paper presents the establishment of a closed form expression for the dynamic forces as explicit functions of cutting parameters and tool/workpiece geometry in milling processes. Based on the existing local cutting force model, the generation of total cutting forces is formulated as the angular domain convolution of three cutting process component functions, namely the elementary cutting function, the chip width density function, and the tooth sequence function. The elemental cutting force function is related to the chip formation process in an elemental cutting area and it is characterized by the chip thickness variation, and radial cutting configuration. The chip width density function defines the chip width per unit cutter rotation along a cutter flute within the range of axial depth of cut_ The tooth sequence function represents the spacing between flutes as well as their cutting sequence as the cutter rotates. The analysis of cutting forces is extended into the Fourier domain by taking the frequency multiplication of the transforms of the three component functions. Fourier series coefficients of the cutting forces are shown to be explicit algebraic functions of various tool parameters and cutting conditions. Numerical simulation results are presented in the frequency domain to illustrate the effects of various process parameters. A series of end milling experiments are performed and their results discussed to validate the analytical model.