Study of the milling strategy on the tool life and the surface quality for

Purpose: The aim of this research is to make a study about the influence of the tool trajectory's generation on its tool life and the improvement of the surface quality in multi-axis milling at high speed machining of the knee prostheses. The material used for this study is the titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V ELI (TA6V ELI) for implant. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology has consisted on proving a serie of parameters combinations with various machining configurations and various programs of the tool trajectory's generation in three and five axes (the axis of the tool is maintained normal on the machined surface by rotation around Y axis; the axis of the tool is maintained according to axis Z; the axis of the tool is tilted around the Y axis). And determined the influence of the machining strategy over of the tool life. Findings: The knee prostheses are constructed with important mechanical resistance materials with complex form, which require high performance cutting tools and high cost. The good generation's trajectory of the cutting tool in multi-axes milling permits to minimize flank wear. High speed Machining offers a considerable profit in the capacity of surface quality, duration of the machining and polishing operations and consequently in improvement productivity. But the choice of the cutting speed must be recommended by the couple tool-materials. Research limitations/implications: A possible future work would be the development of a general the phenomenal of the residual stress of various machining configurations and various programs of the tool trajectory's generation and the knee protheses life. The behaviour of the residual stress studies are planed in the future. Practical implications: The relationship found between the milling strategy on the tool life and surface quality work piece has an important practical implication since it allows selecting the best cutting condition for knee prostheses. Results are of great importance in the quality of articulation surface so the cartilage in medicine industry. Originality/value: The paper is original since the bibliographical review has allowed testing that, although works about these themes exist, none approaches the problem like it has been made in this work. This paper could be an interesting source of information for engineers and researchers who work with machining knee prostheses.