Investigation of turning tool system with on-line tool geometry adjustment

Metal cutting is one of the most important methods of removing unwanted material in the production of mechanical components. The tool geometry such as rake angles and cutting edge inclination angles play significant roles in determining machining performance. Varying these angles directly affects effects of machining parameters such as cutting forces, cutting temperatures, tool wear, tool life, surface integrity, dimensional stability. The necessity and possibility of the on-line geometry adjustment of turning tools are investigated in this paper. A brief design of a device facilitating this on-line geometry variation is described. Based on the ‘classical’ oblique cutting operation, analytically simulated prediction of the tangential cutting forces were presented with MATLAB software. A new turning tool mechanism having the function of intelligent in-process controllability in changing the tool inclination angle and tool approach angle.