Experimental Investigation of Chip Formation and Surface Topology in Ultrasonic-Assisted Milling of X20Cr13 Stainless Steel

In the present paper, by using longitudinal one dimensional ultrasonic vibrations, characteristics of side milling of X20Cr13 martensitic stainless steel has been investigated. In order to experimentally investigate the chip formation and machined surface topology of workpiece, conventional milling (CM) and ultrasonic-assisted milling (UAM) processes have been applied and compared in certain cutting conditions. Imaging by digital microscope shows that applying ultrasonic vibrations on milling process leads to thinner and smaller formed chips and it also makes machined surface of workpece flatter. In both CM and UAM processes, as feed rate increases, chips become thicker and machine surface loses its flatness.