Nickel-based super alloys are gaining more significance, now-a-days, with extensive applications in aerospace, marine, nuclear reactor and chemical industries. Several characteristics including superior mechanical and chemical properties at elevated temperature, high toughness and ductility, high melting point, excellent resistance to corrosion, thermal shocks, thermal fatigue and erosion are primarily responsible for wide domain of application. Nevertheless, machined surface integrity of nickel-based super alloys is a critical aspect which influences functional performance including fatigue life of the component. This review paper presents state-of-the-art on various surface integrity characteristics during machining of nickel-based super alloys. Influence of various cutting parameters, cutting environment, coating, wear and edge geometry of cutting tools on different features of surface integrity has been critically explained. These characteristics encompass surface roughness, defects (surface cavities, metal debris, plucking, smeared material, redeposited material, cracked carbide particles, feed marks, grooves and laps), metallurgical aspects in the form of surface and sub-surface microstructure phase transformation, dynamic recrystallisation and grain refinement and mechanical characteristics such as work hardening and residual stress. Microstructural modification of deformed layer, profile of residual stresses and their influence on fatigue durability have been given significant emphasis. Future research endeavour might focus on development of new grades, advanced processing techniques of the same to ensure their superior stability of microstructure and thermo-mechanical properties along with advanced manufacturing processes like additive manufacturing to achieve highest level of fatigue durability of safety critical components while maintaining acceptable surface integrity and productivity.

State-of-the-art in surface integrity in machining of nickel-based super alloys

This paper presents an overview of the recent advances in high performance cutting of aerospace alloys and composite currently used in aeroengine and aerostructure applications. Progress in cutting tool development and its effect on tool wear and surface integrity characteristics of difficult to machine materials such as nickel based alloys, titanium and composites is presented. Further, advances in cutting technologies are discussed, focusing on the role of hybrid machining processes and cooling strategies (MQL, high pressure coolant, cryogenic) on machining performance. Finally, industrial perspectives are provided in the context of machining specific components where future challenges are discussed.

High performance cutting of advanced aerospace alloys and composite materials

Hybrid processes in manufacturing

Thermally enhanced machining uses external heat sources to heat and soften the workpiece locally in front of the cutting tool. The temperature rise at the shear zone reduces the yield strength and work hardening of the workpiece, which make the plastic deformation of hard-to-machine materials easier during machining. This review summarizes the up-to-date progress and benefits of thermally enhanced machining (with a focus on laser and plasma assistance) of ceramics, metals and metal matrix composites. It covers the integration of the external heat source with cutting tools, analysis of temperature distribution around the cutting region, material removal mechanisms, tool wear mechanisms and the improvement in machinability of various engineering materials by the assistance of external heat source.

Thermally enhanced machining of hard-to-machine materials: a review

Intrinsically smart, metal matrix composites (MMCs) are lightweight and high-performance materials having ever expanding industrial applications. The structural and the functional properties of these materials can be altered as per the industrial demands. The process technologies indulged in fabrication and machining of these materials attract the researchers and industrial community. Hybrid electric discharge machining is a promising and the most reliable nonconventional machining process for MMCs. It exhibits higher competence for machining complex shapes with greater accuracy. This paper presents an up-to-date review of progress and benefits of different routes for fabrication and machining of composites. It reports certain practical analysis and research findings including various issues on fabrication and machining of MMCs. It is concluded that polycrystalline tools and diamond-coated tools are best suitable for various conventional machining operations. High speed, small depth of cut and low feed ra...

Fabrication and Machining of Metal Matrix Composites: A Review

Laser-assisted high-speed finish turning of superalloy Inconel 718 under dry conditions

A numerical investigation of laser-assisted machining for Inconel 718 is presented. This study is based on a three-dimensional finite element model, which takes into account a new constitutive law of Inconel 718 as well as friction and heat transfer models at the tool-chip interface that are developed at the Aerospace Manufacturing Technology Centre (AMTC), of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canada. The material flow stress is described as a function of the strain, the strain rate, and the temperature. The friction model accounts for the sticking and the sliding regions observed experimentally. The formulation of the heat transfer model is based on combining contact mechanics analysis with the solution of the thermal contact problem. The laser beam is modeled as a moving heat source, which is experimentally calibrated. To validate the three-dimensional finite element model, laser-assisted machining experiments were designed and carried out under different cutting conditions. The predicted c...

S. Tavakoli

Papers

Laser-assisted high-speed finish turning of superalloy Inconel 718 under dry conditions

Numerical and experimental investigation of laser-assisted machining of inconel 718