Modeling and experimental study of cutting forces in pulsed laser-assisted cutting of SiCp ∕ Al considering temperature effects

Abstract. SiCp/Al composite is a kind of metal matrix composite with aluminum alloy as a matrix and silicon carbide particles as reinforcement, which shows a broad application prospect in the aerospace and automotive industries by virtue of its excellent mechanical properties and lightweight characteristics. However, its non-uniform reinforcing phase distribution and the difference in the properties of the two phases lead to the problem of high cutting force during the machining process. In this study, based on a three-dimensional transient temperature field simulation model considering the equivalent thermophysical properties of the Al matrix and SiC particles, a cutting force decomposition model for the pulsed laser-assisted cutting of SiCp/Al composites is established, and the accuracy of the cutting force model is verified by the pulsed laser-assisted cutting test. The obtained cutting force modeling equations show that the cutting speed, feed, depth of cut, and cutting temperature all affect the magnitude of the cutting force. The results of the cutting tests show that the overall error between the magnitude of the main cutting force, predicted by the cutting force model and the measured values of the tests, is within 20 %, which proves the reliability of the cutting force model.