Comprehensive Evaluation Method for High-Performance Milling of Inconel 718 Alloy

The aim of this paper was to develop and verify a method for evaluating the high-performance milling of Inconel 718 alloy under accelerated tool wear conditions. The method considered parameters such as cutting-force components, total machine power consumption, cutting-edge wear, and material removal rate. The study compared high-feed milling and plunge milling, using sets of cutting parameters that are appropriate for both techniques. The results indicate that high-feed milling was more efficient, achieving higher material removal rates and lower tool wear. On the other hand, plunge milling was characterized by a lower axial force component (Fz), which can positively affect machining accuracy. The paper highlights that the proposed evaluation method can also be applied to other hard-to-machine materials, and plunge milling offers a competitive alternative for roughing operations in the milling of Inconel 718 alloy.