High Speed Machining

Reference using UGX and NX CAM by Siemens PLM Software

(formerly known as UGS PLM Software http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com )

Contents

Introduction and Background

HSM / Hard Milling

Components of HSM

HSM aspects outside your CAM system

HSM aspects inside your CAM system

Case Study

Q&A

High Speed Machining

What is it?

Very high tool rpm, small

depths of cut and high feed
rates

Mostly used in milling hard

mold and die steels (hence
term hard milling)

Also appears in airframe

work for different reasons

Different materials
(aluminum)

Used to reduce heat and

material stress during
machining
3

High Speed Machining

Value

Maximizes overall productivity fewer

process steps, faster machining

Machining Mold and Dies made of very

hard materials (P20, H13, D2, etc.), deep
cavities and fine details typically require
time consuming EDM processes.

HSM produces high quality finish on

milling machine reduces need for EDM
electrodes, burning and hand finishing

Challenges

How to drive HSM machines to capacity

without breaking tools

Tool makers cutting data ranges from very

safe to highly optimistic - what data do we
use and why doesnt this data always work
for me?
4

Hard Milling

Machining Mold and Dies made of very hard materials (P20,

H13, D2, etc.), deep cavities and fine details typically require
time consuming EDM processes. HSM helps users bypass
EDM with out-of-the-box hard-milling solutions.

HSM
HSMCapable
Capable
Machine
MachineTool
Tool

Cutting
CuttingTool
Tool

Controller
Controller

HSM
HSMcapable
capable
CAM
CAMSystem
System

Programming
Programming
Know-how
Know-how

HSM - High Efficiency Hard Milling

It is only as good as the weakest link.
7

Hard Milling

Do you have all the components you need?

Increasing spindle speed and feed while decreasing

chip load is just the beginning step of successful high
speed programming.

Further understanding of the cutting action is

essential. (chatter, vertical engagement angle,
material removal rate, effect of surface speed on the
finish, etc.)

Hard Milling - Machine

HSM
HSMCapable
Capable
Machine
MachineTool
Tool

A stable machine capable of running at high speeds

and feeds without the machine dynamics coming into
the machining equation.

The cutting forces and vibration caused by the actual

contact between the tool and the material becomes
the primary action.

High Speed Spindle retrofits are not High Speed

Machines.

Hard Milling Cutting Tools

Cutting
CuttingTool
Tool

Tools capable of handling very high surface temperature.

Available High Length to Diameter ratios for reaching into

intricate cavities

Gold coating
TiN

High surface hardness

Lubricity

TiCN

Blue-gray coating
Moderate temperatures
High Temperature applications

TiAlN

Forms Al Oxide coating -low thermal

conductivity
Longer tool life
10

Hard Milling Cutting Tools

Ball End Mills rough closer to the part than End Mills
with small corner radius.

Original

Blank

Part and

30mm

End Mill with

1mm Corner Radius

30mm

Ball End Mill

Ball End Mills produce consistent finish along the

entire slope spectrum.
11

Hard Milling Cutting Tools

End mills always get stressed at the same point.

Effective engagement of ball end mills is distributed

Contrary to popular beliefs, ball mills cut more effectively at

the tip than end mills. While it is correct that ball end mills do
not have surface speed at the center, it is true for flat end
mills as well. Unless you are cutting flat horizontal faces,
there is no need to use flat end mills for finishing.
12

Hard Milling - Tool Holder

Holders capable of very low run-out at high

spindle speeds and acceleration.

HSK

Shrink fit

Tribos

Dynamic vs. static run-out.

Example holder standards. 3Gs

13

Hard Milling - Machine Controller

Controller
Controller

Support for various high speed interpolation types

Look-ahead

Corner acceleration and deceleration curves.

Distinction criteria for Linear Vs Spline interpolation.

NURBS (Non-Uniformal Rational B-Spline)

Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline: This is a mathematical representation for smooth curves and
surfaces. A type of curve or surface for which the delta (difference) between successive
knots need not be expressed in uniform increments of 1. This non-uniformity distinguishes
NURBS from other curve types.
B-Spline: A particularly smooth class of approximating curves. B-Splines are fully
approximating: such a curve generally passes through its control points if several of them
are in the same location. B-Spline curves are converted to NURBS curves when imported
into Industrial Design softwares for example 3D Studio MAX.

14

Hard Milling Machine Controller NURBS

15

Hard Milling - Machine Controller

Smooth Interpolation

Exact positioning
16

Hard Milling - Machine Controller

Discrepancy between actual and requested high feed

rate.

Is SuperGI (Geometric Intelligence) or similar

algorithm turned on ?

Is SuperGI disabled due to programming/post errors?

Subroutines within a Super GIMakino block

Cutter Compensation

Using multiple Super GI modes for finishing, roughing

and non-cutting moves (M250, M251, M252Makino)
Bi-directional copy-mill example
18

Hard Milling - CAM

HSM
HSMcapable
capable
CAM
CAMSystem
System

Programming
Programming
Know-how
Know-how

Consistent use of chatter free machining parameters.

Do not exceed the intended Metal Removal Rate.

Leave uniform amount of stock after every tool.

Consistent finish in both steep and non-steep areas.

Smooth, continuous cutting.

Fine tuned HSM data for CNC controllers

Divide and conquer. Do not apply templates to the entire part.

19

Hard Milling - Chatter

Chatter is the #2 cause of tool failure in hard milling

applications. (It is also the most overlooked)

Process for avoiding chatter

Chatter Zone

20

Proven Integrated Machining Data

Integrated, customizable
machining database enables
storing, retrieving and
associatively using the data in tool
path operations.
NX-CAM for example includes
proven machining data for
commonly used raw materials.
P20 in NX3
More materials coming up in NX4.

21

NX Milling what can you do?

Avoid over-loading the tool while maintaining high feed

rates

Controlling tool step-over, managing tool embedding

Z-level plus path

Enhanced trochoidal paths

Efficiently locate the optimum machining areas

Use the in-process workpiece

The key issue is achieving a constant rate of material removal

22

Trochoidal Toolpath

23

Material Removal Rate - Roughing

Typical roughing path exceeds requested metal

removal rate at corners and fully embedded first cuts.

24

Metal Removal Rate - Roughing

Without trochoidal, if you are not breaking the tool,

you are not cutting efficiently.

25

MRR & Vertical Engagement Angle

26

MRR & Vertical Engagement Angle

27

Metal Removal Rate

Order your flowcuts

28

Metal Removal Rate - Uniform Blank

Cut between your Z-Levels

29

MRR & Z Level Operations

Easy control of vertical and horizontal engagement

angles.

Z-lock provides much better Super-GI performance

at the controller.

Watch out for Z level passes near horizontal corners.

30

Metal Removal Rate & Finish

On part stepover option enables constant metal

removal rate and uniform surface finish
31

Cleaner Toolpath

Too many engages and retracts are unsafe and

should be avoided.

Level based Rest Milling is faster too.

32

Constant Surface Speed ??

Varying RPM as the effective cutting diameter

changes.

This is important for good surface finish.

Chatter characteristics could be ignored since the

depth of cut is really small.

34

Tool Length

Keep the tool length as short as possible.

Increased tool length causes increased deflection.

Even in big tools this makes a difference.

Even if there is insignificant un-measurable deflection, you need

only a small disturbance to start vibration. (which is very bad for
the coating.)

35

Divide and Conquer

Different machining regions require different strategies.

Mass machining of the entire part does not produce efficient

HSM tool path.

36

Case Study - HSM on Connecting Rod Die

Measurement
Operations required

NX2
11

Rest mill path

1:30

4:30

NX3
7

generation time
Overall Programming

6 hr

2 hr

Time

How did we
do it?

Improved In-process work-piece performance

Automatic cut levels in cavity milling

New Z-level Plus path to contour floors while

roughing

Trochoidal cutting to avoid over-embedding tool

Holder checking for multiple tools

37

Case Study - HSM on Connecting Rod Die

Measurement
Operations required

NX2
11

Rest mill path

1:30

4:30

NX3
7

generation time
Overall Programming

6 hr

2 hr

Time

How did we
do it?

Improved In-process work-piece performance

Automatic cut levels in cavity milling

New Z-level Plus path to contour floors while

roughing

Trochoidal cutting to avoid over-embedding tool

Holder checking for multiple tools

38

Articles, papers, presentations

Faster and Finer

Is Your HSM Investment Paying You Dividends - by Edwin Gasparraj

Constant Material Removal The Key to Hard Milling - by Edwin Gasparraj

Critical Machining Data for HSM Process Specification -

Customer facing presentation Die/Mold and HSM

by Edwin Gasparraj

39

Website reference

UGS PLM Software

http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com
Vibrafree.com
http://www.vibrafree.com/UHSHM/UHSHM.htm

For

more case studies please visit Vibrafree.com. There

a lot of case studies about HSM in pdf format.