Tool wear and surface quality assessment of CFRP trimming using fractal analyses of the cutting force signals

The surface quality of machined carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) differs depending on cutting conditions, e.g. cutting parameters and tool wear. Fractal analyses were performed on the cutting force signals, acquired during the trimming of CFRP, to describe the signal complexities variations. Fractal parameters, such as dimension and topothesy, were used to describe the signal irregularity and complexity. Statistical parameters, e.g. average and amplitude, and fractal parameters were compared related to the tool wear and to the surface quality. The fractal results from cutting force signals can estimate the tool wear and the surface quality.