Reducing Chatter: Vibration Dampening Technology For Metal Cutting

In applications where excessive vibrations cause undesirable chatter, introducing vibration dampening tools can improve Metal Cutting machining results.

By Jonathan Chou

Vibrations are usually caused by the dynamic interaction between the cutting process and the structure of the machine tool. The source can be traced to the variation of cutting force generated between the tool and the workpiece, which strains the structure elastically.

Vibration dampening tools have seen increasing use to achieve better machining results.

This can cause a deflection of the tool and workpiece, altering the tool-work engagement. Any disturbances, such as a hard spot in the work material, causes a deflection which then alters the cutting force. This might lead to the initial vibration to build up with the machine oscillating in one of its natural modes of vibration.

Provided that correct conditions are applied to cutting data and inserts, vibration problems generally do not arise when machining up to four times the diameter of boring bars. However, with an overhang of more than four times the tool diameter, vibration tendencies can become more apparent.

Such vibrations (otherwise known as chatter) tend to be the limiting factor for cutting speeds and feeds. This can affect productivity, as cutting speeds and feeds are sometimes forced to go well below the capacities of machine tools.

Eliminating chatter is therefore a top concern.  In order to achieve better results, vibration dampening tools have seen increasing use.

Anti-Vibrational Boring

For boring or internal turning, Iscar has developed a series of anti-vibration boring bars. These have been designed to reduce vibrations when working with a high overhang from 7xD to 10xD.

Called Whisperline, these tools contain a damping mechanism that consists of a heavy mass supported by a rubber spring element containing oil. This serves to increase the required dampening effect.

The system also has other elements which help to further reduce vibrations. The reactive damping mechanism comes into play during machining with high overhang work depths, acting as a counter to vibrations.

The anti-vibration damper effect allows for large depth of cut and high feed rates, which translates to continuous and more efficient machining.

The cutting edge can also be supplied with coolant. This reduces the cutting insert’s temperature, thus increasing its tool life, while improving chip control and evacuation at the same time.

Modular Tooling

In addition, Big Kaiser also has a Smart Damper series of anti-vibration tools. The tools incorporate a passive damping mechanism that functions as a counter action by way of high resonance friction action. The system’s damping capability minimises the effects of high frequency oscillations, absorbing vibration and allowing higher machining accuracy.

The finish and rough boring heads also come with a modular connection, allowing for an array of standard shanks and extensions to be adapted with the heads to create tools to extend over 40 cm, maintaining damping near the cutting edge and managing vibration in long-overhang setups.

The company’s SW Smart Damper can perform two roughing operations without needing to change any components due to individually adjustable insert holders. Balanced cutting for high speed operations where inserts are of the same diameter and length, and stepped cutting for high stock removal where the insert holders are simply reversed to create diameter and height offsets.

Milling In Silence

Milling adaptors from Sandvik Coromant have been developed in response for the need for greater metal removal rates and reduced vibration wherever long, slender milling tools are deployed.

The milling adapters offer production engineers an effective way of enhancing productivity, process security, and surface finish in vibration-prone, long overhang operations.

“Inside the adapters is a pre-tuned passive damper—a counteracting mass that acts as a shock absorber,” explained Pal A Sollie, product and application specialist at Sandvik Coromant. The damper improves the dynamic behaviour of the tool assembly for a variety of milling applications with slender tools, from high-feed face milling, deep shoulder and side milling, pocketing, slot milling, profiling, circular ramping, or helical interpolation.

The tools also offer under-sized shanks that, where required, allow side clearance between the adapter and workpiece. This permits the use of a nominal diameter cutter—rather than an oversized cutter, which is advantageous because a lower mass cutter is more productive than a larger version on a long, slender assembly. This flexibility removes the need to compromise component designs when the use of slender milling tool assemblies is required.

Other Factors

The proper insert geometry also plays a large role when cutting. Choosing an insert that is strong enough to withstand the cutting forces while being suited to the component and its application is important.

Chip evacuation is also critical to the boring process in particular. Short, spiral-shaped chips are easy to evacuate, and do not place large stresses on the cutting edge when chip breaking occurs. Hard breaking of very short chips uses more power and increases vibration. Long chips make chip evacuation more difficult and the risk of swarf-clogging arises.

It is therefore necessary to choose the most suitable insert geometry, which along with the chosen machining parameters, fulfil the requirements for good chip control.

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