Analysis of Machining Strategies for Peripheral Milling

Milling is a versatile cutting process used widely in the manufacturing industry for shaping complex geometrical workpieces. Due to the flexibility of the cutting process and the different variables involved, the optimization of the milling process has become a key issue in order to achieve higher productivity and quality. To optimize the process planning, it is important to select an adequate machining strategy. A machining strategy provides a cutting mode for the tool during a particular machining operation, determining the axial and radial depth of cut and the recommended trajectories for the cutting tool. This paper presents an analysis and validation of different strategies for peripheral milling. For this purpose, a new cutting force model is used. The cutting force model used in this paper is an average-chip-thickness- based model developed by the authors in a previous publication.