The engineblock production lines need high speed tapping with tungsten carbide taps. In the tapping process, the machining precision and the tool life of taps are directly influenced by tapping forces. And the parameter optimization of tap structures is also correlated with the variation of tapping forces. Therefore, the study of tapping forces is necessary in developing new style taps. Several experiments about some novel carbide taps are performed on a vertical machining center by a Kistler dynamometer system in blind tapping both gray cast iron and ductile cast iron. And the variations of tapping forces are analyzed in tapping-in and tapping-out periods. It indicates that cutting forces hardly vary with the tap wear in tapping cast iron. Contrarily, tapping forces are closely correlated with the holding method. Besides, it also depends on the helix angle, the flute numbers and the plasticity of the work material to some extent.
To select high performance milling tools with optimum geometry structure suitable for machining hardened steel SKD11, geometry structures of tools are optimized. Four kinds of TiAlN coated cemented carbide tools are developed. The milling performance in high-speed milling hardened steel SKD11 by using these four kinds of tools is evaluated through the aspects of cutting force, cutting vibration, chip deformation, tool life, and tool wear mechanism, thus determining the optimum milling tool. The tool life of the optimum tool is 3 times of that of other tool, and the cutting force and vibration decrease by 70% compared with that of other tools. It has the most stable cutting performance.
