Thermal Finite-difference Modeling of Machining Operations in Polymers

Polymer materials are known to be easily damaged by temperature reached during machining operations. A two-dimensional finite-difference model is established to predict the temperature in orthogonal cutting. Calculations are validated with experiments carried out on polyurethane samples with various cutting speeds and depths of cut. The cutting temperatures are measured by thermocouples embedded within the workpiece and the tool cutting edge. The model provides a three dimensional thermal field of the workpiece with an accuracy of 20 K.