PLATE INSERTION AS A MEANS TO IMPROVE THE DAMPING CAPACITY OF A CUTTING-TOOL SYSTEM

Effective chatter prevention during cutting operations is achieved by increasing the damping capacity of a cutting tool system. It is well k nown that damping capacity is generated through (i) micro-slip at the interface between the tool shank and tool post, (ii) slip at the grain boundary within a vibrating body (that is, internal friction), and (i ii) friction between the surface of the vibrating body and the surroun ding air. Among these three causes of damping capacity, micro-slip at the interface between the tool shank and tool post is the greatest fac tor affecting the damping capacity of the cutting tool system. In the research investigation, it is shown that the damping capacity of a cut ting tool system is improved by friction acting between the inner wall of a rectangular hole made at the overhanging shank of the cutting to ol system and the surface of a plate inserted into this rectangular ho le. The damping capacity improvement proposed in this paper is realize d by a mechanism similar to the inner friction mechanism. (C) 1998 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.