Quantitative analysis of chip extraction in drilling of Ti6Al4V

Drilling of ductile materials like Ti6Al4V often comes along with insufficient chip extraction which leads to process disruptions. In the present study a characteristic variable, which quantitatively describes the quality of the chip extraction is introduced to evaluate the process reliability and the resulting workpiece quality. Vibration assisted drilling with kinematically enforced chip breaking was applied. The results of the experimental tests reveal a direct correlation between the process temperatures, the exit burr height and the introduced chip extraction index. This index can be used to identify suitable cutting parameters and process conditions for a reliable drilling process.