2010 R&D 100 Winner
Conventional machining operations that involve the turning or boring of ductile materials create a continuous or semi-continuous chip, which frequently becomes entangled in a so-called bird nest. This bird nest can damage the workpiece or the machine tool, poses a significant safety hazard to the machine operator, and complicates the postmachining cleanup operations.
The Modulated Tool-Path (MTP) Chip Breaking System from Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, Tenn., the Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte, solves this problem by using computer modeling and simulation techniques to produce user-selectable chip lengths and workpiece finishes.
The MTP system works by generating a cutting-tool motion that oscillates along the tool-path vector, so that the cutting tool periodically engages and disengages from the cut face to create a broken or segmented chip. In addition to being compatible with any material, workpiece shape, and depth of cut, the system can manage parameters such as the phase between spindle rotation and the axes oscillation, the ratio of the oscillation amplitude to the global
feed rate of the cutting tool, and the ability of an individual machine to execute specific oscillation commands.
Technology
Continuous-chip process breaking system
Developers
Y-12 National Security Complex
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Development Team
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| (l-r): Ed Babelay, Jr., Bill Barkman , Y-12; Scott Smith, David Tursky, Thomas Assaid, Bethany Woody, Justin McFarland, David Adams, Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte. |
The Modulated Tool-Path (MTP) Chip Breaking System Development Team:
David Adams, Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte alumnus
Thomas Assaid, Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte
Edwin F. Babelay Jr., Y-12 National Security Complex
William E. Barkman, Y-12 National Security Complex
Justin McFarland, Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte
K. Scott Smith, Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte
David Tursky, Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte
Bethany A. Woody, Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte alumnus
