A Study on Temperature Evolution During Milling of FRP Composites

This paper investigates temperature variation in fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) during milling operations by using thermocouples (TCs) embedded within the core of the cut specimen. TCs are connected to a temperature difference (T.D.) heat transfer device to log temperature variation during milling. The effects of process parameters (depth of cut, feed rate, and rotational speed) on temperature generation within the material are discussed by cutting six specimens from a bulk FRP panel using a laser machine. Holes were drilled on the trim plane side of the specimens. These three holes allow the interstation of type K thermocouples connected to the acquisition system. It was observed that increasing the initial depth of the cut has a directly proportional relationship with the amount of heat generated within the specimen. Furthermore, increasing the feed rate also had a similar trend with heat generation within the material, apart from fifty-five mm/min. However, a contrary effect was observed and attributed to the preexisting middle-milled channel effects were heat escapes more rapidly. Finally, the impact of increasing the rotational rates of the tool was discussed, and it was revealed that the temperature developed within the workpiece rises proportionally to the rotational speed.