Determination of the Depth of Cut via Surface Integrity

The present paper continues the authors' research in machining process optimization, including the direction of machining parameters optimization. The paper develops an innovative method, via surface integrity, for determining the technological route and the related depths of cut, with respect to machining front faces of cast iron parts. For correctly establishing the depths of the cut, the errors that appear within surface and subsurface layers during the casting process, as well as during machining, must be gradually eliminated. These errors make it necessary to consider the concept of surface integrity. This paper presents the modality of integrating the components of surface integrity into the depth of cut. For the practical use of this method, a new software tool based on a series of mathematical models and a small database was conceived. A case study illustrates how the method is applied and the software tool used to solve a specific application in the case of a belt pulley.