The influence of the cutting edge shape on high performance cutting

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the influence of the shape of a cutting edge on high-performance milling high-performance cutting. The main purpose of the test was to determine the possibility of increasing the efficiency of machining AlZn5.5CuMg alloy, which is used mainly for the thin-walled structural aerospace components. Design/methodology/approach In all, eight cutters for machining aluminum alloys with different shape of the cutting edge (1 – continuous, 4 – interrupted, 3 – wavy) were tested. The influence of different shapes of a cutting edge on cutting force components and vibration amplitude was analyzed. Furthermore, the impact of a chip breaker on the form of a chip was determined. Findings The conducted test shows that using discontinuous shapes of a cutting edge has impact on the reduction of the cutting force components and, in most cases, on the increase of vibration amplitude. Moreover, using a chip breaker caused significant chip dispersion. The optimal shape of a cutting edge for cutting AlZn5.5CuMg alloy is fine wavy shape. Practical implications Potential practical application of the research is high-performance milling of AlZn5.5CuMg alloy, for example, production of thin-walled aerospace structural components. Originality/value Different shapes of a cutting edge during high-performance milling of aluminum alloy were tested. The influence of tested geometries on HPC process was determined. The most favourable shape of a cutting edge for high-performance cutting of AlZn5.5CuMg alloy was determined.