Micro-end milling of NiTi biomedical alloys, burr formation and phase transformation

Abstract

This paper focuses on burr formation in micro-end milling of two Nickel-Titanium shape memory alloys (SMA), an austenitic and a martensitic NiTi. Phase transformation during machining was also examined. The experimental design approach was used to study the effect of cutting parameters on burr formation. The studied parameters were cutting speed, feed per tooth, depth and width of cut, 20 machining strategy and initial material phase of the NiTi alloy. Different types of burrs were formed during micro-end milling of NiTi alloys; it was observed that top burrs are the most important. The height of top burrs can reach values close to those of the depth of cut. Burrs were observed and characterized using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), confocal and optical microscopes. The affected layer under the machined surface, and phase transformation 25 were investigated by using SEM. The results of the analysis of variance showed a significant formation of burrs, deeply influenced by the feed per tooth and width of cut. An increase in the feed per tooth and a decrease of width of cut tend to decrease the height and width of the top burr. In a thin layer under the machined surface, phase transformation was observed for the martensitic NiTi.