Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa holds the second largest share of the world’s titanium mineral deposits. However, there is no capacity for the development of titanium metal, mill products or components. It is at these stages of development that most of the value is added. For this reason, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has been undertaking a research-led industrialisation initiative. The aim of this initiative is to establish a titanium industry strategy within South Africa. This research comes at a time when the demand for titanium, particularly from the commercial aerospace and biomedical sectors is growing rapidly. A South African industrial strategy framework has been developed by the DST to deliver titanium related competencies across the entire titanium value chain. One of the key building blocks within the strategy framework is targeted at the machining of titanium metal. This is a core competence required for the manufacture of finished titanium products. This research is fully aligned with the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy (AMTS) and its objective of improving industry competitiveness via the development of advanced manufacturing technologies, as well as to the objectives of the Titanium Centre of Competence (TiCoC), whose mission is to develop and commercialise the technology building blocks required for the establishment of a titanium industry in South Africa. In order to implement the titanium industry strategy successfully in South Africa, all research being conducted in this field needs to be transferred to industry as well as protected. This is the focus of this thesis and is achieved through the development of technology transfer (TT) strategy as well as an intellectual property (IP) strategy for titanium machining. Without a TT strategy, the technological developments which are made might not be successfully implemented into industry as intended. An IP strategy is equally as important as, without one, entire research and development projects can be lost to those seeking to take advantage of incorrectly protected IP. To develop the TT and IP strategies, substantial information on the basics of these fields was considered. Titanium machining relevant information, such as contract details, industrial partnerships as well as the level of development which the research had achieved upon starting this study was also considered. Together this information created a solid foundation for decision making with regards to how both IP and TT should be handled for the titanium machining research initiative. Each new technology developed, along with its respective IP needs to be considered individually, as the scenarios for both its protection and transfer into industry will be in some way unique. As such, the strategies developed within this report attempt to provide a general outline for the decision making process for any situation which might arise. Ultimately both strategies are represented within this thesis. In order to take the research presented in this thesis further, the development of an IP portfolio is suggested allowing for decisions to be made with regards to technology specific IP outputs. For the technology transfer further implementation of tests for validation purposes at the industrial partners is recommended, in order to begin to develop an understanding of their environments and capabilities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika beskik oor die wereld se tweede grootste titaaan mineraalafsetting, maar daar is geen kapasiteit vir die ontwikkeling van titaan metaal, milj produkte of komponente nie. Dit is op hierdie stadium van ontwikkeling waar die meeste waarde toegevoeg word. Om hierdie rede is die Departement van Wetenskap en Tegnologie (DWT) besig met ‘n navorsingsgedrewe industrialisering inisiatief. Die doel van hierdie inisiatief is om 'n titaan bedryfstrategie in Suid-Afrika te vestig. Hierdie navorsing vind plaas op ‘n tydstip waar die vraag na titaan, veral vanuit die kommersiële ruimte- en biomediese sektore, vinnig groei. 'n Suid-Afrikaanse industriële strategie raamwerk is ontwikkel deur die DWT om titaan verwante vaardighede te lewer oor die hele titaan waardeketting. Een van die belangrikste boustene binne die strategiese raamwerk is gemik op die bewerking van titaan metaal. Dit is die kernbevoegdheid wat benodig word vir die vervaardiging van voltooide titaan produkte. Hierdie navorsing is ten volle belyn met die “Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy” (AMTS) en sy doelwit van verbetering van die bedryfsmededingendheid via die ontwikkeling van gevorderde vervaardigingstegnologie, asook die doelwitte van die “Titanium Centre of Comptetence” (TiCoC), wie se missie dit is om die tegnologiese boustene wat nodig is vir die vestiging van 'n titaan bedryf in Suid-Afrika te ontwikkel en te komersialiseer. Ten einde die titaan bedryf strategie suksesvol in Suid-Afrika te implementeer, moet alle navorsing in hierdie veld beskerm word en daarna na die bedryf oorgeplaas word. Dit is dan die fokus van hierdie tesis, wat bereik word deur die ontwikkeling van ‘n IP strategie asook ‘n tegnologie oordragstrategie vir titaan masjinering. Sonder die nodige intellektuele eiendom (IP) beskermingstrategie, kan hele navorsing- en ontwikkeling projekte verloor word deur diegene wat voordeel wil trek uit IP wat nie korrek beskerm is nie. ‘n Tegnologie oordragstrategie is ewe belangrik aangesien, in die afwesigheid hiervan, die ontwikkelings wat gemaak word, dalk nie suksesvol geïmplementeer sal word in industrie soos bedoel nie. Om die IP strategie te ontwikkel, is omvattende inligting oor die basiese beginsels van IP beskerming en bestuur oorweeg. Tersaaklike inligting oor titaan verwerking soos, kontrak besonderhede, industriele venootskappe asook die vlak van ontwikkeling wat die navorsing alreeds bereik het met die aanvang van hierdie studie, is in ag geneem. Saam het hierdie inligting ‘n stewige fondament geskep vir besluitneming ten opsigte van die toepassing en die hantering van beide IP asook die oordrag van tegnologie in die titaanverwerking navorsings inisiatief. Elke nuwe tegnologie wat ontwikkel word, tesame met die betrokke IP benodighede, moet individueel oorweeg word, aangesien die scenario vir beide die IP beskerming en oordrag van die tegnologie na industrie unieke aspekte sal hê. As sodanig poog die strategie wat ontwikkel is binne hierdie verslag, 'n algemene raamwerk te bied vir die besluitnemingsproses vir enige situasie wat mag ontstaan. Beide strategieë is in hierdie tesis aangespreek. Die rigting vir toekomstige werk dui daarop dat ‘n IP portfolio saamgestel moet word wat voorsiening maak vir tegnologies-spesefieke besluite ten opsigte van IP uitsette. Ten opsigte van tegnologie oordrag, word verder aanbeveel dat toetse vir die validasie by venote in industrie ingestel word, ten einde begrip te ontwikkel vir hulle omgewings en vermoëns.

The present work was performed at AB Sandvik Coromant as a part in improving the knowledge and understanding about wear of uncoated WC/Co cutting tools during turning of titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V. When machining titanium alloys, or any other material, wear of the cutting tools has a huge impact on the ability to shape the material as well as the manufacturing cost of the finished product. Due to the low thermal conductivity of titanium, high cutting temperatures will occur in narrow regions near the cutting edge during machining. This will result in high reaction and diffusion rates, resulting in high cutting tool wear rates. To be able to improve titanium machining, better knowledge and understanding about wear during these tough conditions are needed. Wear tests were performed during orthogonal turning of titanium alloy and the cutting tool inserts were analysed by SEM, EDS and optical imaging in Alicona InfiniteFocus. Simulations in AdvantEdge provided calculated values for cutting temperatures, cutting forces and contact stresses for the same conditions as used during wear tests. It was found that turning titanium alloy with WC/Co cutting tools at cutting speeds 30-60 m/min causes chamfering of the cutting tool edge and adhesion of a build-up layer (BUL) of workpiece material on top of the rake face wear land. The wear rate for these low cutting speeds was found to be almost unchanging during cutting times up to 3 minutes. During cutting speeds of 90-115 m/min, crater wear was found to be the dominating wear mechanism and the wear rate was found to have a linear dependence of cutting speed. An Arrhenius-type temperature dependent wear mechanism was found for high cutting speeds, between 90 and 115 m/min.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Efficient face milling of titanium alloys provides a global challenge. Difficult-to-cut super alloys such as Ti-6Al-4V is considered the “workhorse” material for aerospace components. During the machining of aerospace components, 80% – 90% of the material is removed. This requirement drives the innovation for machines and tooling to become more efficient, while driving down costs. In South Africa, this requirement is no different. Due to the historic practice of exporting valuable minerals such as Ilmenite, leucoxene and rutile, South Africa does not enjoy many of financial benefits of producing value added titanium alloy products. The Titanium Centre of Competence (TiCoC) is aimed at creating a South African titanium manufacturing industry by the year 2020. More specifically, the roughing of Ti-6Al-4V aerospace components has been identified as an area for improvement. The thermal conductivity of Ti-6Al-4V is significantly lower than that of other “workhorse” metals such as steel or aluminium. Therefore, heat rapidly builds up in the tool tip during high speed machining resulting in shortened tool life and increased machining costs. Hence the ongoing developments in the field of cooling methods for high speed machining. The latest development in high pressure cooling (HPC) is split tools that deliver coolant into the cutting interface via flat nozzles in the rake face of the insert. Although it has been released recently and limited to a single supplier, this cooling method is commercially available, yet little is known about its performance or application conditions. The operational characteristics of split tools are studied by answering set research questions. A dynamometer was used to measure the tangential cutting forces during 11 cutting experiments that follow a three-factor factorial design at two levels and with three centre points. A second-order model for predicting the tangential cutting force during face milling of Ti-6Al-4V with split tools was fit to the data at 95% confidence level. A predictive cutting force model was developed in terms of the cutting parameters: (1) Axial depth of cut (ADOC), (2) feed per tooth and, (3) cutting speed. The effect of cutting parameters on cutting force including their interactions are investigated. Data for chip evacuation, surface finish and tool wear are examined and discussed. Practical work was done at a selected industry partner to determine: (1) impact of an analytical approach to perform process development for aerospace component roughing, (2) determine the feasibility of implementing split tools to an existing process. A substantial time saving in the roughing time of the selected aerospace component was achieved through analytical improvement methods. Furthermore it was found that the split tools were not a suitable replacement for current tooling. It was established that certain critical operational requirements of the split tools are not met by the existing milling machine at the industry partner. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Doeltreffende masjinering van titaan allooie bied `n wêreldwye uitdaging. Moeilik-om-te-sny super allooie soos Ti-6Al-4V word as die “werksesel” materiaal vir lugvaart komponente beskou. Gedurende die masjinering van lugvaart komponente word 80% - 90% van die materiaal verwyder. Dit is hiérdie behoefte wat die innovering van masjien -en snygereedskap dryf om dit meer doeltreffend en finansieël vatbaar te maak. Die Suid Arikaanse behoefte vir doeltreffende snygereedskap vir Ti-6Al-4V masjinering stem ooreen met hierdie internationale behoefte. Die geskiedkundige Suid Afrikaanse praktyk om onverwerkte, waardevolle minerale soos Ilmeniet, rutiel en leucoxene uit te voer, kniehalter die land se kans om winste uit verwerkte titaan allooi produkte te geniet. Die “Titanium Centre of Competence” (TiCoC) se mikpunt is om `n Suid Afrikaanse titaanproduk vervaardigingsmark op die been te bring teen 2020. Stellenbosch Universiteit se funksie, binne hierdie strategiese raamwerk, fokus op hoë spoed masjinering van Ti-6Al-4V lugvaart komponente. Die hitte geleidingsvermoë van Ti-6Al-4V is noemenswaardig laer as die van ander “werksesel” materiale soos byvoorbeeld staal of alumium. Om hierdie rede word hitte in die freesbeitelpunt gedurende hoë spoed masjinering opgeberg. Dit verkort gereedskap leeftyd en verhoog masjinerings kostes. Daarvandaan deurlopende ontwikkelinge in verkoelingsmetodes vir hoë spoed masjinering. Die mees onlangse ontwikkeling in hoë druk verkoeling is “split tools” wat koelmiddel na die snyoppervlak deur middel van langwerpige gleufies in die hark gesig van die beitelpunt lewer. Hierdie tegnologie is op die mark beskikbaar, maar slegs deur `n enkele verskaffer. Daar is ook geen akademiese publikasies wat oor Ti-6Al-4V masjinering met “split tools” handel nie. Die verrigtings vermoë en toepassings gebied vir die gereedskap is steeds onbekend. 'n Dinamometer is gebruik om die tangensiale snykragte tydens 11 sny eksperimente te meet. Die eksperiment ontwerp is faktoriaal van aard en bevat drie faktore en drie middelpunte oor twee vlakke. `n Kwadratiese model is geskik om die data op 95% vertroue vlak voor te stel en voorspellings mee te maak. Die voorspellingsmodel is ontwikkel in terme van: (1) Diepte van snit, (2) voertempo, en (3) Snyspoed. Die invloed van die drie parameters op die tangentiale snykrag, asook invloed met mekaar word ondersoek. Verdere data in verband met materiaal verwydering, oppervlak afwerking en beitel slytasie word ook bespreek. Praktiese werk is met behulp van `n bedryfsvennoot gedoen om vas te stel: (1) die impak van 'n analitiese benadering en ontwikkelings proses op die uitrof van lugvaart komponente, (2) en om die lewensvatbaarheid van implementering van “split tools“ aan 'n bestaande proses te bepaal. `n Noemenswaardige besparing is sodoende behaal. Dit is verder bevind dat “split tools” nie `n geskikte plaasvervanger vir die huidige snygereedskap is nie. Die rede daarvoor is gedeeltelik omdat die huidige freesmasjien by die bedryfsvennoot nie aan die kritiese operasionele vereistes van die gereedskap vervaardiger voldoen nie.

No description available.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aerospace industry actively pursues innovation, especially in materials and their use in new applications, to improve their aircraft as well as their competitive position. Ti-6Al-4V has been available now for more than 50 years. Yet, in the new generation of aircraft using structural composites, a dramatic increase in the proportion of Ti-6Al-4V will be seen along with emerging application in automotive and chemical industries. This material possesses superior material properties compared to conventional materials such as steel and aluminium, although it is at the expense of machinability. Researchers are therefore actively searching for improved cutting technologies to improve production rates for Ti-6Al-4V. At higher cutting speeds than the industry norm of 60 - 90 m/min, machining becomes a challenge, resulting in low productivity on titanium parts. The limiting factor in the machining of Ti-6Al-4V is high tool temperatures of the order of 1000oC, caused by its resistance to absorb heat and good mechanical strength at elevated temperatures. The result is extreme temperatures that are concentrated on the cutting edge of the tool. The challenge to improve the tool life is therefore focused on removing heat from the insert. Liquid nitrogen was identified as a good candidate as coolant with the additional advantage of being environmentally friendly. The research presented investigates the use of a gravity feed enclosed liquid nitrogen cooling system to improve the tool life of the cutting inserts. The liquid nitrogen is contained on the insert rake face by means of a tool cap. To improve the effectiveness of the cooling method, a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) insert was used. This insert has a considerably higher thermal conductivity that aids in cooling the cutting edge. Tungsten carbide inserts are used for benchmark testing. The round tungsten carbide inserts with conventional cooling performed exceptionally well for machining titanium compared to square inserts, yielding exceptional tool life improvements while significantly increasing the material removal rate. Positive results were recorded with the liquid nitrogen cooling system when used with the polycrystalline diamond cutting insert. A number of far reaching performance issues are identified relating to the design of the tool cap that hindered clear scientific outputs. From a research perspective, the project makes a contribution to the knowledge base in this field. Additionally a new approach in cooling was investigated, resulting in clear indications of design changes required. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die lugvaart industrie streef aktief innovasie na, veral op die gebied van materiale en hul gebruike, om hul vliegtuie en kompeterende posisie in die mark te verbeter. Ti-6Al-4V is al vir meer as 50 jaar beskikbaar. ‘n Drastiese verhoging in die aanvraag na Ti-6Al-4V deur die lugvaart, motor en chemiese industrieë word verwag wanneer die volgende geslag vliegtuie wat koolstofvesel as strukturele materiaal begin gebruik, in produksie gaan. Die materiaal het beter materiaaleienskappe as konvensionele materiale soos staal en aluminium, maar dit kom egter teen die prys van masjieneerbaarheid. Ti-6Al-4V se masjienering bo die industrie norm van 60 – 90m/min is ‘n groot uitdaging. Navorsers soek daarom deurentyd na verbeterde sny tegnologieë om die produksie tempo van Ti-6Al-4V te verbeter. Die beperkende faktor vir Ti-6Al-4V masjienering is die temperatuur wat genereer word. Die weerstand van die materiaal om hitte te absorbeer en sy goeie meganiese eienskappe veroorsaak dat temperature in die beitel 1000oC bereik. Hierdie temperature word egter op die snykant van die beitel gekonsentreer. Die uitdaging is dus om hierdie temperature in die beitel te beheer. Vloeibare stikstof is geïdentifiseer as ‘n goeie kandidaat vir verkoeling met die bykomende voordeel dat dit omgewingsvriendelik is. Die navorsing wat hier uiteengesit word, ondersoek die gebruik van ‘n geslote kamer beitelverkoelingstelsel wat deur gravitasie met vloeibare stikstof voorsien word om die beitel leeftyd te verbeter. Die oppervlak van die beitel word in hierdie konsep direk aan die vloeibare stikstof blootgestel. Om die effektiwiteit van die stelsel te verbeter word van PCD beitels gebruik gemaak. Die beitel se verbeterde hittegeleidingsvermoë help om die beitel se snykant koel te hou. Tungstenkarbied beitels word gebruik om ‘n standaard te stel vir eksperimentele analise. Die ronde tungstenkarbied beitels en konvensionele verkoeling het verstommend goed presteer vir Ti-6A-4V masjienering in vergelyking met vierkantige beitels. Die materiaalverwyderingstempo is aansienlik verhoog sonder om die beitel se leeftyd in te boet. Positiewe resultate is waargeneem met die vloeibare stikstof sisteem saam met die PCD beitels. ‘n Aantal verreikende uitdagings is geïdentifiseer wat suiwer wetenskaplike afleidings bemoeilik. Hierdie probleme kan almal aan die ontwerp van die toerusting toegeskryf word. Die werk lewer egter steeds ‘n bydrae tot die kennis in die veld. ‘n Bykomende benadering vir verkoeling is ondersoek wat duidelik ontwerp-veranderings aandui.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is a strong focus on the use of titanium and its alloys in the aerospace industry due to the high ultimate tensile strength and high strength-to-weight ratio of the material. The high performance nature of the material also makes it difficult and costly to machine. South Africa has the second most abundant titanium resources in the world in the form of rutile and ilmenite but no value chain to produce titanium parts from the ore. Currently, the ore is sold overseas at low prices. There exists an initiative to create a full titanium value chain in South Africa by the Department of Science and Technology. This project forms part of this initiative, where local industry is equipped with knowledge and skills to produce and machine titanium parts. The focus of this study is to determine whether it is possible to machine titanium aerospace parts at a local industry partner and equip the industry partner with knowledge and skills in order to facilitate effective and economical machining of these parts. Daliff Precision Engineering was selected as the local industry partner and specific demonstrator parts were selected on which to base the study. The process the industry partner currently uses to machine aerospace parts from difficult-to-machine alloys was studied and evaluated. It was found that about 70% of the machining time was spent on a single roughing process, hence the decision to study the roughing process in an attempt to establish whether improvement was possible. Pilot tests were done at the facilities of the industry partner and time savings of 95% were realised on the roughing process. A 2-level 3-factor Design of Experiments methodology was followed for experimentation and analysis of titanium machining at the industry partner. The roughing process of the demonstrator part was simulated on the CNC machining centre and the depth of cut, cutting speed and feed per tooth were selected as the factors, and the response was tool wear. A statistical analysis was done using Modde 9.1 design of experiments software and an optimisation model was created in order to determine a feasible set of cutting parameters, maximise material removal rate and have a target amount of tool wear. The findings show that it is possible to economically machine titanium aerospace parts with a selected geometry at the industry partner without the need for significant capital investments. The industry partner can use the knowledge generated in this project to validate their titanium machining capabilities and form part of the titanium value chain that is being developed in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is ‘n groot fokus op die gebruik van titaan allooie in die lugvaart nywerheid, as gevolg van die material se hoë trek-sterkte en hoë sterkte-tot-gewig verhouding. Die eienskappe wat die material so aantreklik maak, is ook die rede wat dit moeilik en duur maak om te masjineer. Suid-Afrika het die tweede grootste titaan reserwes in die wêreld in die vorm van rutiel en ilmeniet erts, maar geen waarde ketting om titaan onderdele te vervaardig van die erts af nie. Die erts word tans oorsee verkoop teen lae pryse. Daar is tans ‘n inisiatief om ‘n titaan waardeketting in Suid-Afrika te skep deur die Departement van Wetenskap en Tegnologie. Hierdie projek vorm deel van hierdie inisiatief om die plaaslike nywerheid toe te rus met kennis en vaardighede om titaan produkte te vervaardig. The fokus van hierdie studie is om te bepaal of dit moontlik is om titaan lugvaart onderdele te masjineer by ‘n plaaslike industrie-vennoot en om hierdie vennoot met kennis en vaardighede toe te rus om hierdie onderdele effektief en ekonomies te vervaardig. Daliff Precision Engineering is gekies as die plaaslike industrie-vennoot en spesifieke demonstrator onderdele is gekies om die studie op te baseer. Die proses wat die industrie-vennoot tans gebruik om moeilik-om-te-masjineer allooie te masjineer is bestudeer en ge-evalueer. Daar was bevind dat 70% van die masjineringstyd bestee word aan ‘n enkele uitrof-proses. Daar is besluit om vas te stel of die uitrof-proses verbeter kan word. Loods-eksperimente is gedoen by die industrie-vennoot se fasiliteite en ‘n tydsbesparing van 95% is gevind op die uitrof-proses. ‘n 2-Vlak 3-faktor eksperimentele ontwerp metodologie is gevolg om eksperimente by die industrie-vennoot op titaan uit te voer en te analiseer. Die uitrof-proses van die demonstrator onderdeel is gesimuleer op die CNC masjineringsentrum en die diepte van snit, snyspoed en voer per tand is gekies as die faktore en beitel-slytasie is gekies as die respons. ‘n Statistiese analise is gedoen deur Modde 9.1 eksperimentele ontwerp sagteware te gebruik om ‘n moontlike stel van sny-parameters te identifiseer om die materiaal-verwyderingstempo te maksimeer en die teiken waarde vir beitel-slytasie te bereik. Daar is gevind dat dit moontlik is on titaan lugvaart onderdele met ‘n spesifieke geometrie ekonomies te masjineer by die industrie-vennoot, sonder om enige beduidende kapitaal uitgawes aan te gaan. Die industrie-vennoot kan die kennis gebruik wat geskep is deur die projek om hulle titaan masjineringsvaardighede te valideer en om deel te vorm van die titaan waardeketting wat besig is om in Suid-Afrika ontwikkel te word.

Les exigences de productivité et de qualité dans l’industrie aéronautique imposent d’avoir des machines-outils optimisées en termes de précision, de cinématique et de dynamique. L’objectif des travaux de recherche menés est de proposer de nouvelles méthodologies de conception de machines-outils à haute rigidité pour l’usinage des pièces aéronautique en titane. Dans un premiers temps, la problématique du choix de la configuration structurale la plus adéquate au procédé d’usinage envisagé est traitée en proposant une méthode de synthèse et de sélection basée sur des critères qualitatifs. L’analyse des performances des différentes configurations structurales relatives aux critères qualitatifs adoptés permet de les classer. Les résultats obtenus ont permis d’aboutir à un ensemble restreint de configurations structurales de machines-outils adéquates au procédé d’usinage des pièces aéronautiques en titane. Pour compléter cette méthode, il est alors nécessaire de développer une approche d’analyse quantitative des arrangements structuraux relatifs à chaque configuration structurale. Dans un second temps, une nouvelle approche de sélection des arrangements structuraux de machines-outils est développée. Cette approche consiste tout d’abord à élaborer des modèles réduits des structures de machines-outils considérées. Ensuite, nous mettons en œuvre une optimisation paramétrique en vue de minimiser la masse totale des structures mécaniques de ces machines tout en respectant une contrainte de rigidité cible. Cette optimisation est réalisée par un couplage entre MATLAB et ANSYS APDL. Enfin, le classement des arrangements structuraux selon leurs performances met en évidence ceux les plus appropriés au procédé d’usinage des pièces aéronautiques en titane. Alors ces travaux participent à l'évolution des méthodologies de conception des nouvelles machines d'usinage. / Productivity and quality requirements in the aerospace industry require optimized machine tools in terms of precision, kinematics and dynamics. The objective of this thesis is to propose new methodologies for the design of highly stiffened machine tools for machining titanium aeronautical parts. First, the issue of choosing the most appropriate structural configuration for the machining process is handled by proposing a synthesis and selection method based on qualitative criteria. The performance analysis of the different structural configurations relative to the adopted qualitative criteria makes it possible to classify them. The results obtained have led to a limited set of structural configurations of machine tools suitable for the process of machining titanium aeronautical parts. To complete this method, it is then necessary to develop an approach for quantitative analysis of the structural arrangements corresponding for each structural configuration. In a second step, a new approach for the selection of structural arrangements of machine tools is developed. This approach consists firstly in developing reduced models of considered machine tool structures. Then, we implement a parametric optimization in order to minimize the total mass of the mechanical structures of these machines while under the constraint of a target stiffness. This optimization is achieved by coupling MATLAB and ANSYS APDL. Finally, the classification of structural arrangements according to their performance highlights those most appropriate for the process of machining titanium aeronautical parts. This work contributes to the evolution of design methodologies for new machining machines.