On deformation characterisation of machined surfaces and machining-induced white layers in a milled titanium alloy

Machining-induced white layers and severely deformed layers are undesirable surface integrity features which can be formed when machining high-strength aerospace alloys. An orthogonal milling process has been designed and performed to assess the impact of cutting speeds, tool wear, cutting edge radius and climb vs conventional milling on white layer formation and plastic strain distribution. The plastic deformation in the machined surface associated with the formation of white layers in Ti-6Al-4V has been quantified using micro-grids of different length scales printed using the electron beam lithography technique. It was found that white layers formed via the severe plastic deformation mechanism, at equivalent plastic strain values in excess of 1.2 and in regions of the cutting arc with the instantaneous chip thickness of less than the cutting-edge radius and ploughing and rubbing being the dominant mechanisms. The results indicated that the magnitude of the measured strains and the depth of plastically deformed material was greater at lower cutting speeds, during climb milling and when machining with a larger cutting edge radius and tool flank wear land.