Surface topography and roughness in hole-making by helical milling

Helical milling is used to generate holes with a cutting tool traveling on a helical path into the workpiece in which the diameter of the hole can be adjusted through that of the helical path. Based on an improved Z-map model, a 3D surface topography simulation model is established to simulate the surface finish profile generated after a helical milling operation using a cylindrical end mill. The surface topography simulation model incorporates the effects of the relative motion between the cutting tool and the workpiece, in which the effect of the insert runout error of the cutting tool is considered. Furthermore, the roughness parameters are deduced from simulations of the 3D surface topography. The experimental result shows that the proposed simulation algorithm can predict well the surface roughness in a helical milling operation. The surface topography simulation model is used to study the effects of cutting conditions such as the tangential feedrate, the diameter of the cutting tool and the hole, the insert runout error of the cutting tool, as well as the revolution of the cutting tool around the axis of the hole on the surface finish profile. It is found that the surface quality can be improved by optimization of the cutting conditions. As a result, the proposed model will be helpful in determining the cutting conditions to meet surface finish requirements in helical milling operation.