Towards energy management during the machining of titanium alloys

The manufacturing industry needs to address challenges as regards to the machining process in the multifaceted context of sustainability. The current cost of energy and the reduction in material reserves highlights the need for machining systems to be more energy-efficient. This paper aims to provide a systematic overview of advanced approaches to manage energy and resource efficiency in cutting operations. The research experimentation focuses on the machining of a selected titanium alloy, Ti6Al4V, using carbide cutting tools. Tool wear, chip formation, cutting force and energy use were measured and analysed for selected cutting parameters. The experimental results illustrate the importance of selecting optimum cutting parameters and machining strategy. The results further help to define the boundary conditions for the various input parameters. Future research is also discussed