MULTIFORM WORKING OF ALUMINUM ALLOYS

Abstract In the aviation industry, a number of aircraft parts for various purposes are manufactured from aluminum alloys of different grades. The physical and mechanical characteristics of such alloys differ, but mechanical cutting with monolithic end milling carbide cutters does not take these differences into account; it is generally assumed that the cutter must have the required performance capacity for the specified period of cutter durability or until the permissible wear of the cutter teeth is reached. The paper presents the results of using two tooth monolithic end milling carbide cutters with and without coatings. The study objective is to assess the effect of coatings applied to milling cutters on the wear rate of the cutter teeth. The task to which the paper is devoted is to increase the service life of milling cutters by applying coatings that reduce wear. Research methods. Experimental study of the wear rate of milling cutters under different operating conditions. The novelty of the work is in substantiating the rational scope of applying the studied milling cutter coatings. Research results. A reduction in the wear rate of the milling cutter teeth is achieved compared to an uncoated milling cutter (for example, by the factor of 10 at 5 machine hours and by a factor of 7 at 30 machine hours). Conclusion. Using the example of milling with a two tooth monolithic end milling cutter made of a hard aluminum aviation alloy V95ochT, the rationality of using coated cutters is demonstrated, in comparison with uncoated cutters, over a period of 30 hours of operation. Each coating individually affects the wear rate of cutters. Zr + ZrN + (ZrCrNb)N coating provides the lowest wear rate at all operating times. TiCN + TiN + TiN coating reduces the wear of the milling cutter teeth more effectively than Zr + ZrN + (ZrCrNb)N coating; after 5 hours of operation, these coatings are practically equivalent, as they provide wear of 0.002 mm and 0.003 mm, respectively. Zr + ZrN + (ZrCrNb)N coating reduces wear: • after 10 hours of operation, Zr + ZrN + (ZrCrNb)N coating is more efficient; when it is used, the wear of the milling cutter is half that of TiCN + TiN + TiN coating. • At 20 hours of operation, Zr + ZrN + (ZrCrNb)N coating is more efficient; its use results in 1.7 times less wear on the cutter compared to TiCN + TiN + TiN coating; • At 30 hours of operation, Zr + ZrN + (ZrCrNb)N coating is more efficient; its use results in 1.9 times less wear on the cutter compared to TiCN + TiN + TiN coating.