Nowadays, the need for three-dimensional miniaturized components is increasing in many areas, such as electronics, biomedics, aerospace and defence, etc. To support the demands, various micro-scale fabrication techniques have been further introduced and developed over the last decades, including micro-electric-mechanical technologies (MEMS and LIGA), laser ablation, and miniature machine tools (mMTs). Each of these techniques has its own benefits, however miniature machine tools are superior to any others in enabling three-dimensional complex geometry with high relative accuracy, and the capability of dealing with a wide range of mechanical materials. Thus, mMTs are emerging as a promising fabrication process. In this work, various researches have been carried out based on the mMTs. The thesis presents micro-machining, in particular, micro-milling force model and three relevant subsystems for miniature machine tools (mMTs), to enhance machining productivity/efficiency and dimensional accuracy of machined parts. The comprehensive force model that predicts micro-endmilling dynamics has been developed. Unlike conventional macro-machining, the cutting mechanism in micro-machining is complex with high level of non-linearity due to the combined effects of edge radius, size, and minimum chip thickness effect, etc., resulting in no chip formation when the chip thickness is below the minimum chip forming thickness. Instead, part of the work material deforms plastically under the edge of a tool and the rest of the material recovers elastically. The developed force model for micro-endmilling is effective to understand the micro-machining process. As a result, the micro-endmilling force model is helpful to improve the quality of machined parts. In addition, three relevant subsystems which deliver maximum machining productivity and efficiency are also introduced. Firstly, ultrasonic atomization-based cutting fluid application system is introduced. During machining, cutting fluid is required at the cutting zone for cooling and lubricating the cutting tool against the workpiece. Improper cutting fluid application leads to significantly increased tool wear, and which results in overall poor machined parts quality. For the micro-machining, conventional cooling methods using high pressure cutting fluid is not viable due to the potential damage and deflection of weak micro-cutting tools. The new atomization-based cutting fluids application technique has been proven to be quite effective in machinability due to its high level of cooling and lubricating. Secondly, an acoustic emission (AE)-based tool tip positioning method is introduced. Tool tip setting is one of the most important factors to be considered in the CNC machine tool. Since several tools with different geometries are employed during machining, overall dimensional accuracy of the machined parts are determined by accurate coordinates of each tool tip. In particular, tool setting is more important due to micro-scale involved in micro-machining. The newly developed system for tool tip positioning determines the accurate coordinates of the tool tip through simple and easy manipulation. At last, with the advance of the 3D micro-fabrication technologies, the machinable miniaturized components are getting complex in geometry, leading to increased demand on dimensional quality control. However, the system development for micro-scale parts is slow and difficult due to complicated detection devices, algorithm, and fabrication of a micro-probe. Consequently, the entire dimensional probing system tends to become bulky and expensive. A new AE-based probing system with a wire-based probe was developed to address this issue with reduced cost and size, and ease of application. / Graduate

Electric Discharge Machining (EDM) is a process for eroding and removing material by transient action of electric sparks on electrically conductive materials immersed in a dielectric liquid and separated by a small gap. A spark-eroded surface is a surface with matt appearance and random distribution of overlapping craters. It is mechanically hard and stressed close to ultimate tensile strength of the material and sometimes covered with a network of micro cracks. The violent nature of the process leads a unique structure on the machined surface and generates residual stresses due mainly to the non-homogeneity of heat flow and metallurgical transformations. An extensive experimental study is presented to explore the surface and sub-surface characteristics together with the residual stresses induced by the process. Layer removal method is used to measure the residual stress profile in function of depth beneath. A finite element based model is proposed to determine residual stresses and compared with the experimental results. The residual stress pattern is found to be unchanged with respect to machining parameters. Thus, a unit amplitude shape function representing change in curvature with respect to removal depth is proposed. The proposed form is found as a special form of Gauss Distribution, which is the sum of two Gaussian peaks, with the same amplitude and pulse width but opposite center location that is represented by three constant coefficients. In each case, agreement with the proposed form is established with experimental results. Results have shown that these coefficients have a power functional dependency with respect to released energy.

Regenerative chatter is a well-known machining problem that results in unstable cutting process, poor surface quality, reduced material removal rate and damage on the machine tool itself. Stability lobe diagrams supply stable depth of cut &amp / #8211 / spindle speed combinations and they can be used to avoid chatter. The main requirement for generating the stability lobe diagrams is the system dynamics information at the tool tip in the form of point frequency response function (FRF). In this work, an analytical model that uses structural coupling and modification methods for modeling the dynamics of spindle-holder-tool assemblies in order to obtain the tool point FRF is presented. The resulting FRF obtained by the model can be used in the existing analytical and numerical models for constructing the stability lobe diagrams. Timoshenko beam theory is used in the model for improved accuracy and the results are compared with those of Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. The importance of using Timoshenko beam theory in the model is pointed out, and the circumstances, under which the theory being used in the model becomes more important, are explained. The model is verified by comparing the results obtained by the model with those of a reliable finite element software for a case study. The computational superiority in using the model developed against the finite element software is also demonstrated. Then, the model is used for studying the effects of bearing and contact dynamics at the spindle-holder and holder-tool interfaces on the tool point FRF. Based on the results of the effect analysis, a new approach is suggested for the identification of bearing and interface parameters from experimental measurements, which is demonstrated on a spindle-holder-tool assembly. The model is also employed for studying the effects of design and operational parameters on the tool point FRF, from the results of which, suggestions are made regarding the design of spindles and selection of operational parameters. Finally, it is experimentally demonstrated that the stability lobe diagram of an assembly can be predicted pretty accurately by using the model proposed, and furthermore the stability lobe diagram can be modified in a predictable manner for improving chatter stability.

Inconel 718 is a high nickel content superalloy possessing high strength at elevated temperatures and resistance to oxidation and corrosion. The non-traditional manufacturing process of wire-electrical discharge machining (EDM) possesses many advantages over traditional machining during the manufacture of Inconel 718 parts. However, certain detrimental effects are also present. The top layer of the machined surface is melted and resolidified to form what is known as the recast layer. This layer demonstrates microstructural differences from the bulk workpiece, resulting in altered material properties. An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the main machining parameters which contribute to recast layer formation in wire-EDM of Inconel 718. It was found that average recast layer thickness increased with energy per spark, peak discharge current, current pulse duration, and open-voltage time and decreased with sparking frequency and table feed rate. Over the range of parameters tested, the recast layer was observed to be between 5 and 10 μm in average thickness, although highly variable in nature. Surface roughness of the cut parts showed an increase with energy per spark. Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) revealed the recast layer to be alloyed with elements from the wire electrode. X-ray diffraction testing showed the residual tensile stresses evident near the cut surface to decrease with energy per spark. Additionally, nano-indentation hardness testing indicated that the recast layer is reduced in hardness and elastic modulus compared to the bulk material. Vibratory tumbling was found to be a moderately effective post-processing tool for recast layer removal when using pre-formed ceramic abrasive media or fine grained aluminum oxide.

The following work is an attempt to feed a dynamic concept of the body into contemporary morphogenetic design procedures in order to confront critiques that topological design processes produce architectural form that is too abstract. This begins with an understanding of the body schema; the open and continuously variable relationships between the various modes of sensation and perception that can only be described in topological terms. Similar to how active matter is instrumentalized in avant-garde practice and cutting edge research towards self-organization and morphogenesis, an active body schema has the potential to be instrumentalized towards design that aims to exploit the potential performance and openness of the body when confronted with architecture, moving away from mechanistic, representational notions of function. The work follows a procedure wherein conceptual research engages physical phenomena that are abstracted into diagrams then organized into material systems or abstract machines. These machines are intended to be mobilized and consolidated to engage specific issues of program and type and further refined to be deployed upon a specific site. This morphological process of machining architecture aims to move toward a seamless exchange between research and design that effectively instrumentalizes the dynamic body schema into a design process engaging architecture of performance. Perhaps, in terms of the body, morphogenetic design produces architecture that is not abstract enough.

La millora de la productivitat i la qualitat són indubtablement dues de les principals exigències del sector productiu modern i factors clau per la competitivitat i la supervivència. Dins aquest sector,la fabricació per arrancada de material juga encara avui en dia un paper protagonista tot i l'aparició de noves tècniques de conformat per addició.Indústries com l'aeronàutica, l'automobilística,la del motlle o l'energètica, depenen en bona part de les prestacions de les màquines-eina. Aquesta Tesi aborda dos aspectes rellevants quan es tracta de millorar de la productivitat i la qualitat del sector productiu: el problema del fimbrament, més conegut per la denominació anglosaxona chatter,i la monitorització de la rugositat superficial en el mecanitzat a alta velocitat. / Productivity and quality improvement are undoubtedly two of the main demands of themodern manufacturing sector and key factors for competitiveness and survival. Within this sector, material removal processes play, still nowadays, a principal role despite the emergence of additive manufacturing techniques. Industries such as aerospace, automotive, molds and dies or energy largely depend on machine tools performance for improved productivity and quality. This Thesis is focused on two important aspects when it comes to improving productivity and quality of the manufacturing sector: chatter problem, and surface roughness monitoring in high speed milling.

This thesis presents cutter swept volume generation, in-process workpiece modeling and Cutter Workpiece Engagement (CWE) algorithms for finding the instantaneous intersections between cutter and workpiece in milling. One of the steps in simulating machining operations is the accurate extraction of the intersection geometry between cutter and workpiece. This geometry is a key input to force calculations and feed rate scheduling in milling. Given that industrial machined components can have highly complex geometries, extracting intersections accurately and efficiently is challenging. Three main steps are needed to obtain the intersection geometry between cutter and workpiece. These are the Swept volume generation, in-process workpiece modeling and CWE extraction respectively. In this thesis an analytical methodology for determining the shapes of the cutter swept envelopes is developed. In this methodology, cutter surfaces performing 5-axis tool motions are decomposed into a set of characteristic circles. For obtaining these circles a concept of two-parameter-family of spheres is introduced. Considering relationships among the circles the swept envelopes are defined analytically. The implementation of methodology is simple, especially when the cutter geometries are represented by pipe surfaces. During the machining simulation the workpiece update is required to keep track of the material removal process. Several choices for workpiece updates exist. These are the solid, facetted and vector model based methodologies. For updating the workpiece surfaces represented by the solid or faceted models third party software can be used. In this thesis multi-axis milling update methodologies are developed for workpieces defined by discrete vectors with different orientations. For simplifying the intersection calculations between discrete vectors and the tool envelope the properties of canal surfaces are utilized. A typical NC cutter has different surfaces with varying geometries and during the material removal process restricted regions of these surfaces are eligible to contact the in-process workpiece. In this thesis these regions are analyzed with respect to different tool motions. Later using the results from these analyses the solid, polyhedral and vector based CWE methodologies are developed for a range of different types of cutters and multi-axis tool motions. The workpiece surfaces cover a wide range of surface geometries including sculptured surfaces.

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.

Une prothèse de genou est généralement, composée de deux parties fixées respectivement sur le fémur et sur le tibia et d’une troisième, dite intercalaire. Durant le processus de fabrication de ces composants des déformations apparaissent au niveau des bruts de fonderie. Les fabricants de prothèses choisissent d’assurer l’épaisseur nominale de la prothèse en enlevant une épaisseur constante sur le brut de fonderie. Cette opération est généralement réalisée manuellement. L’objectif de ces travaux de thèse est de contribuer à l’automatisation de ces opérations en proposant une méthode d’adaptation des trajectoires d’usinage aux variations géométriques de la surface cible. L’objectif de ce travail de recherche est d’adapter une trajectoire d’usinage sur un modèle nominal pour enlever une épaisseur constante sur une surface brute de fonderie mesurée. La méthode proposée commence par une étape d’alignement de la surface mesurée sur la trajectoire nominale en utilisant un algorithme d’ICP. Par la suite, la trajectoire nominale est déformée pour venir enlever l'épaisseur désirée sur la surface brute mesurée. Cette dernière est définie, dans ces travaux, suivant un modèle STL. Naturellement, les discontinuités de ce type de modèle induit une impression des motifs du STL sur la trajectoire adaptée et, donc, sur la pièce usinée. Par la suite, afin de d’atténuer ce problème et d’améliorer la qualité de fabrication, il est proposé de procéder à un lissage de la trajectoire.Afin de valider les développements théoriques de ces travaux, des essais ont été réalisés sur une machine cinq axes pour l’ébauche de composants fémoraux d’une prothèse uni-compartimentale de genou. / Commonly, knee prostheses are composed of two parts fixed respectively on femur and tibia, and a third one called intercalary. During the manufacturing process, of these components distortions appear on roughcast workpiece geometry. Thus, prosthesis manufacturers choose to ensure the nominal thickness of the prosthesis by removing a constant thickness on the roughcast workpiece. This operation is generally carried out realized manually.The aim of this thesis is to contribute to the automation of these manual operations by providing a method to adapt the machining toolpaths at geometrical variations of the target surface. The aim of this research work is to adapt a machining toolpath computed on a nominal model to remove a constant thickness on a roughcast measured surface. The proposed method starts with an alignment step of the measured surface on the nominal toolpath using an ICP algorithm. Subsequently, the nominal toolpath is deformed to remove the desired thickness of the measured rough surface defined in presented case by a STL model. Naturally, discontinuities of this type of model induce the apparition of pattern for the STL on the adapted toolpath and thus on the machined workpiece. Subsequently, to limit this problem and to improve the quality of realized surface, it is proposed a toolpath smoothing method. To validate theoretical developments of this work, tests were carried out on a five-axis machine for roughing of femoral components of a unicompartmental knee prosthesis.