Study on end milling of CFRP with coolant and cemented carbide end mill

CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) is a composite material with strong anisotropy. Direction of carbon fibers influences tool life and surface integrity, machining accuracy. In this study, side milling tests are carried out with coolant and uncoated cemented carbide end mill. Cutting force, cutting temperature, surface integrity and tool wear are examined and the influences of using coolant and carbon fiber direction are analyzed. Under wet condition, the occurrence of burrs is suppressed and the surface integrity improves. It is also found that there is no significant difference on tool wear between dry condition and wet condition. Tool wear milled the layer that carbon fiber direction is perpendicular to feed direction is almost equal to the layer that carbon fiber direction is parallel to feed direction. The cutting temperature on wet condition is lower than that on dry condition. Carbon fiber direction and coolant change magnitude of cutting force. The condition that carbon fiber direction is perpendicular to feed direction on down milling presents the lower cutting forces.