Increasing productivity of drilling and milling processes of difficult-to-cut materials using internal cryo/MQL-supply

Compared to conventional cooling lubrication strategies cryogenic cooling lubrication has many potentials. The most important are increased productivity, cost savings, improved component quality as well as reduced environmental pollution and reduced risk to employees by avoiding contact with cutting fluid. Up to now, the mentioned potentials could not be fully exploited, because there has been a lack of tools and concepts, in addition to fundamental knowledge. These would allow flexible and successful implementation of cryogenic cooling lubrication for small tool diameters d < 12 mm on machining centers. This requires a supply of both media through the machine tool’s spindle, the tool holder and the tool. The overall objective of the project was to research and develop both the technology of cryogenic cooling lubrication and solid carbide tools with d < 12 mm for the combined internal supply of a cryogenic and an MQL.

The research and development work included fundamental investigations during drilling and milling using cryogenic media in combination with MQL and the development of adapted supply and tool concepts for internal supply through the spindle, the tool holder and the tool. Furthermore, suitable operating conditions were determined and the ecological and economic potential of the technology was evaluated. The results of the research work include recommendations for the design of solid carbide tools with d < 12 mm for a combined supply of the media and their economic use on machining centers, especially for SME. The final report was published at the Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB) in Hannover.