Machining performance of titanium alloy in short electric arc milling

Abstract

In order to solve the high-efficiency removal of difficult-to-cut materials such as titanium alloys, this paper conducts a in-depth research on the process characteristics of short electric arc milling machining (SEAM). The effects of processing conditions on material removal rate (MRR), tool wear ratio (TWR) and surface roughness (Ra) are studied. DeWesoft high-speed acquisition system, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy spectrometer (EDS) are used to characterize the machining performance of Ti-6Al-4V in SEAM. The results show that the surface of the machined Ti-6Al-4V has an obvious central depressions, surrounded by edge bumps and wrinkles caused by the melt. The effective number of short electric arc discharge is high, and the discharge rate can be maintained at a high level, increasing utilization rate of electric energy. The peak current of normal discharge reaches more than 900 A, which can generate a higher MRR. In addition, the surface morphology, re-solidified layer, and particle morphology of Ti-6Al-4V used for SEAM are also studied. These results lay a theoretical and technical foundation for the industrial application of SEAM.