Solid End Mill with Asymmetric Helix Angles for Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solid end mill tools experience vibrations during milling processes, leading to reduced service life and manufacturing tolerances, and increasing the number of cutting edges while improving natural frequencies also results in increased deflection and longer processing times.

Innovation Solution

A solid end mill tool with at least one main cutting edge featuring a turning point in its development where the helix angle increases again, combined with prime number coordinates on the x-axis and associated values on the y-axis, and rounded cutting edges with a specific radius, to reduce vibrations and enhance cutting performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the number of cutting edges is increased to improve natural frequencies and reduce chatter, then vibration resistance is improved, but deflection and passive force increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration resistanceVSAvoiddeflection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting edges are assigned different helix angles (first cutting edge: 30°, second cutting edge: 45°) to create local variations in cutting characteristics. This local differentiation allows each cutting edge to contribute differently to vibration reduction while maintaining acceptable deflection levels, resolving the contradiction between vibration resistance and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If cutting force is reduced by changing feed rate and cutting depth to minimize chatter vibrations, then vibration is reduced, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration controlVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the cutting edges (different helix angles of 30° and 45°, different pitch angles) to fundamentally alter the cutting mechanics. This allows maintaining higher feed rates and cutting depths without inducing chatter vibrations, thus improving productivity while maintaining vibration control through geometric parameter optimization rather than parameter reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If helix angle is increased to improve smooth running and reduce vibrations, then cutting smoothness is improved, but deflection and passive force increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting smoothnessVSAvoiddeflection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs asymmetric helix angles for the cutting edges (30° for the first cutting edge, 45° for the second cutting edge) rather than using uniform high helix angles. This asymmetric configuration achieves cutting smoothness through varied engagement patterns while distributing the load to prevent excessive deflection, resolving the contradiction between cutting quality and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP3192604B1Solid end mill
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 MAIER GMBH
  • EP3192604B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3192604B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3192604B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a solid end mill tool (1) with at least one main cutting edge (21, 22, 23, 24) having a cutting edge (31, 32, 33, 34) on its circumference, wherein at least one cutting edge (31, 32, 33, 34) has an inflection point in its development from the rotating cylinder, from which a previously decreasing helix angle (λ) relative to the axis of rotation (4) increases again, wherein at least one cutting edge (31, 32, 33, 34), in its development, represented in an xy coordinate system (x, y), successively displays the prime numbers X1=7, X2=13, X3=19 and X4=29 on the x-axis and the corresponding values ​​Y1=10, Y2=20, Y3=30, and Y4=40 on the y-axis in its cutting edge profile. includes.