Abstract
An analytical model for prediction of tool temperature fields in metal cutting processes is developed. The model can be applied to any continuous or interrupted three-dimensional cutting process. To accurately represent the heating and cooling cycles encountered during interrupted cutting, the analysis predicts time dependent heat fluxes into the cutting tool. A time history of this heat flux is obtained by performing an energy balance on the chip formation zone. The variation with time of the tool temperature fields is determined from a heat transfer analysis with prescribed heat generation rate. The analysis requires the cutting forces as inputs. The model tool-chip interface temperatures agree well with the experimental tests reported in the literature, for all cutting conditions and work materials investigated. The results indicate that the tool-chip interface temperature increases with cutting speed during both continuous and interrupted cutting.