On the effects of cutting-edge angle on high-feed turning of Inconel 718© superalloy

Machining processes on heat-resistant superalloys—i.e., turbine cases, rings, or shafts—are challenging tasks. The high-added value of such parts makes cycle times be longer than expected. Recently, high-feed turning technique has attracted the attention of practitioners due to its high material removal rate capability. PrimeTurning™ tool unifies the concepts of high-feed and multidirectional turning using multiple active cutting edges. It should be capable of reducing machine downtimes in that kind of parts. However, to avoid early tool replacement and rejects on high added value parts, a deeper knowledge on the high-feed turning process is necessary. Here, inserts specifically designed for high-feed turning in heat resistant Inconel 718© alloy were tested using three cutting-edge angles. The results showed that when chip thickness is more relevant, a cutting-edge angle of 30° reduces the likelihood of notches. Even if force components are high, surface roughness is improved and the risk of fractures is minimized, together with a high evacuation volume. On the other hand, increasing the cutting-edge angle (45° and 60°) without compensating the feed rate, tends to produce tool fractures due to chip overload. Besides, experimental tests showed that long tool-to-workpiece contact times, tend to shorten tool life, due to excessive heat accumulation and poor chip control.