Influence of radial and axial runouts on surface roughness in face milling with round insert cutting tools

In face milling processes, the surface quality of the machined part depends on many factors, including feed, cutting tool geometry and tool errors. In this work, a numerical model for predicting the surface profile and surface roughness as a function of these factors is presented, incorporating a random values generation algorithm that makes it possible to determine the variation in surface roughness from the values that can be adopted by tool errors. This work is focused on round insert cutting tools and the influence of tool errors such as radial and axial runouts. The results that correspond to a number of teeth equal to 4, insert diameter of 12 mm, depth of cut of 0.5 mm, cutting speed of 120 m/min and feed of 0.4-1.4 mm/rev are analysed. Milling experiments are made to verify the validity of the model and the discrepancies between the experimental and theoretical surface profiles are assumed to be a consequence of different factors such as the variation in undeformed chip thickness along the surface profile. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.