Merging complex information in high speed broaching operations in order to obtain a robust machining process

Abstract Current machine-tool users require more unattended machine centres due to the high competition in the global market of manufacturing. As a result, the control and monitoring systems became of utmost importance to detect the different events that could happen during the machining process. For example, broaching process is critical for firtree machining in turbine and automotive components. Tight tolerances and high productivity are the two main requirements for this kind of operation; therefore, it is essential to capture any anomaly during the process, that could damage the piece. This work proposes an alternative way of monitoring broaching process, based on machine internal signals, instead of the use of expensive force sensors for cutting force measurement. This paper presents an indirect monitoring procedure and its application in AISI 1045 high-speed broaching. The results showed the correlation between cutting force and servomotor power consumption, is as a good parameter in the monitoring process of vertical high-speed broaching forces, capable of capture even changes in the cutting forces range of 500N.