High speed pocketing strategy

Pocketing is most common in aerospace, die and mold machining operations. This paper presents automated selection of feed, speed, and depth and width of cuts by considering torque, power and chatter stability limits of the machine tool. The chatter stability limits are predicted by considering the structural dynamics of the machine and work material's cutting force coefficients. The torque and power performance curves of the machine are also used as limits. A wide range of spindle speeds, feeds, depth and width of cuts are processed through a genetic search algorithm. The most optimal cutting condition set, which gives the shortest machining time while respecting the chatter, torque and power constraints, is determined. The proposed pocketing strategy is experimentally validated.