2010 SIMULIA Customer Conference 1

Machining Part Program Optimization through an

Advanced Multidisciplinary Procedure
A. Del Prete
1
, A. A. De Vitis
1
, M. Parodi
2
1
University of Salento, Dep.t of Innovation Engineering, Lecce , Italy ;
2
Exemplar S.r.l. , Turin, Italy
Abstract: In the production of aerospace engine components, metal cutting processes are
characterized by a strong demand for increased productivity that does not compromise the high
quality of the product. The antithesis stands in the fact that it is necessary to maximize the feed
rate and cutting velocity in order to reduce the processing time without compromising the quality
of the worked component. In aerospace machining applications on hard-cut materials like: nickel
based alloys, titanium alloys, etc, it is fundamental to keep under control the local cutting zone
phenomena in order to assure the final product quality. The machining process design
development can be summarized by the following steps: definition and verification of the Part
Program (PP) through dedicated CADCAM software applications, post processing of the
produced PP, CNC machine simulation and physical tryout. A further development of this
procedure foresees the application of the kinematic optimization to improve the cutting process
with a significant time reduction through the optimization of material removal along tool path. In
this study a new multidisciplinary procedure is proposed. The aim of the authors is to modify the
operation parameters set in the already kinematically optimized PP according to the constraints
arising from the physical nature of the cutting process obtained by FEA. A milling operation that
include the use of rough and finish tools related to an aeronautical engine component made by
Inconel 718 has been chosen to test the developed methodology. The aims of the procedure is to
minimize the execution time of the cutting process in compliance to physical micro-scale
constraints (maximum admissible cutting edge temperature and maximum admissible Cutting
Forces).This foresees the integration of the CAM softwares: Vericut for tool-path verification and
Optipath for kinematic optimization of the given PP in the iSIGHT model. The procedure
automatically extracts the values of feed and speed in all the blocks of the PP, which have been
kinematically optimized, to verify if they respect upper limits (previously set) of: analyzed
responses. In the PP blocks where the physical constraints are violated, a Pointer algorithm it has
been used to automatically identify the optimal set of the process parameters within the defined
design space of the approximation models in order to respect the required physical constraints.
The new set of process parameters has been updated into the blocks of the analyzed PP.
Keywords: Machining FEA, Tool-path Simulation, Multidisciplinary Optimization, Approximation
1. Introduction
In metal cutting application, the process development can be summarized by the following steps:
definition and verification of the Part Program through dedicated software applications (CAM,
Post processor, CNC machine simulator), physical tryout, part inspection on CMM and Part
Program certification (Figure 1). Tool path simulation is commonly adopted in order to obtain a
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preliminary validation of a Part Program before its physical tryout. With this type of simulation
the process designer may check: possible collisions between the tool and/or the stock and fixture,
the material removal during rapid motion, etc. This type of application provides specific
measuring tools able to compare the machine part with its original CAD model. These are the
main results of the integration between CADCAM technologies (process design) and the shop-
floor environment. A CAM simulation software has to be able to reproduce CNC machine tool
characteristics (axes configuration, workspace, fixture, tooling room) and its CN in order to
obtain: simulated axes motions, tools loading and all the possible instructions of a specific control.


Figure 1: Traditional tool-path verification workflow.

A further development of this procedure provides an additional step (Figure 2). In this case, the
validation of a part-program through simulation is fundamental to improve the cutting process. A
significant reduction of cutting process time can be achieved with the optimization of material
removal rate along tool path using proper algorithms.



Figure 2: tool-path verification and kinematic optimization workflow.

After the simulation, the studied part-program can be optimized with a kinematic algorithm that
operates to keep constant the chip removed volume per time unit. The purpose of this additional
process design step is to improve the cutting process with a significant time reduction through the
optimization of material removal along tool path. This target is pursued using proper algorithm
that operates with the logics called Constant Removed Volume. Every milling operation can be
characterized by specific values of cutting parameters: depth of cut (p) [mm]; tool radial
engagement (b) [mm]; feed per tooth per revolution (a
z
) [mm\tooth-rev]; spindle speed (n) [rpm];
tool diameter (D) [mm]; number of inserts in the tool (z).
Cutting speed V
a
is defined by Equation 1:

1000
a
Dn
V

[m\min] (1)

The relationships among cutting parameters isdefined by Equation 2:

a z
V n a z [mm\min] (2)

These parameters determine the amount of material removal during tool path; removed material
volume (Q) is defined by Equation 3:
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t
Q b p V [mm
3
\min] (3)

In the kinematic optimization method, b and p in Equation 3 are constant and assigned to obtain
the best use of the tool in accordance with tool producer indications, so optimization algorithm
modifies V
a
to respect the constancy of removed volume and to respect the fixed value of b and p.
It is important to notice that the optimization procedure does not modify the tool path but, it can
produce some breaks in the path depending on the local quantity of material that has to be
removed. Spindle speed is considered constant (Del Prete, 2009). In this paper a new
multidisciplinary procedure is proposed (Figure 3). The already illustrated workflow is integrated
with a finite element cutting simulation environment where it is possible to predict the physical
effects arising from the cutting process: cutting forces and cutting edge temperatures .


Figure 3: Proposed CAE-CAM integrated procedure for tool-path optimization.

The aim of the authors is to modify the operation parameters set in the already kinematically
optimized Part Program according to the constraints arising from the physical nature of the cutting
process obtained by FEA. In particular, tool wear is known to be strictly linked to the cutting
temperature and to the exchanged forces between insert and workpiece. Being able to know the
values of these forces during the process it allows to select optimal input parameters, in this way it
is possible to reduce the time frame required by the process and it allows to control the tool wear.
The optimization procedure uses Response Surfaces properly produced according to data calculate
with FEM simulations and experimental tests carried out on the base of a DOE of the variables
(input parameters) which have influence on the analyzed responses (Figure 4). The advantage of
these techniques, compared to the traditional ones, is that it is required to know the exact response
function of the system only in certain points of the design space and from these points it is
possible to extract, thanks to the response surface, the needed values in all the other points. These
results produce significant benefits in reducing the calculation time as the optimization process
does not require continuous and repeated calls to the solver, but it can exploit the data provided by
the approximation response surface. Optimization of machining parameters not only increases the
utility for machining economics, but also the product quality to a great extent. In this study,
approximation models based on RBF methodology has been developed to predicting the behaviour
of analyzed responses and to create a multidisciplinary optimization procedure.

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Figure 4: Comparison between traditional and adopted procedure.
2. Approximation model construction approach based on FEA data
The authors in this study have used data drawn from the numerical simulations and experimental
tests for the construction of the approximation surface model. In this way, in particular for FE
simulation that required expensive calculation, like metal cutting simulations, it becomes possible
to avoid costly experimental campaigns for data acquisition. The approximation model used in this
work has been developed with RBF technique Radial Basis Functions. This is a type of neural
network used to approximate many types of behaviour. They employ a hidden layer of radial units
and an output layer of linear units, and they are characterized by reasonably fast training and
reasonably compact networks. (Weissinger, 1947) was the first to use radial basis function to
calculate the flow around wings. This neural network utilizes the Gaussian curve to map values.
The network has n inputs and k outputs. Radial basis network is a very efficient network when
function approximation is needed because it has the ability to represent nonlinear functions (Isight
users guide, 2009). In order to model the true functions of analyzed responses (cutting forces F
x
,
thrust force F
y
and cutting edge temperature T
max
) through approximation surfaces based on data
obtained with FEA. The data training set have been obtained through 40 simulations based on
design points selected within the two-dimensional design space who has the following boundaries:
feed for tooth (F); cutting velocity (S); by a version of Latin Hypercube DOE, called Optimal
Latin Hypercube (Figure 5).

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Figure 5: Data acquisition for approximation models development.

2.1 Simplified FE 2D model and data extraction procedure
The analyzed process is a down cut mill operation. In the climb mode shown in (Figure 6-A), the
feed on each tooth is bigger at the initial contact between tool and workpiece and it becomes very
small at the end of the engagement.



Figure 6: (A) Climb mill operation ; (B) FE simplified 2D model.

The maximum force calculated at the interface tool- workpiece it occurs when the tooth surface
impacts on the workpiece. To detect the force components, F
x
and F
y
(Figure 6-A), a simplified
2D model has been chosen (Figure 6-B). In this case the real feed per tooth is the DOC on the
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finite element model (a
z, max
) and the cutting speed equal to the tangential velocity of cutting
profile (V
t
). The calculated values of the exchanged forces have been detected when their value it
has been considered stable.Cutting temperatures data, used to create the wanted RSM, are
computed as an average of temperature values extracted by five fixed nodes on the cutting edge
mesh when thermal steady state condition on tool-workpiece interface is reached, after 2 mm of
cutting length (Figure 7).



Figure 7: Cutting edge temperature measurement points.

2.2. FE model set up
FE analysis of the dry milling operations with the circular insert in WC and no wear have been
carried out. A two-dimensional plane-strain thermo-mechanical analysis, based on the update
Lagrangian formulation was performed using an implicit finite element commercial code
specifically dedicated to machining FEA, SFTC-DEFORM 2D V9.0. For this purpose the
considered workpiece (dimensions: 4x1.5 mm) was initially modelled with 6500 bilinear four-
nodes quadrilateral elements, with dimensions respectively: of 0.007 mm along the cutting edge,
0.01 mm on the first 0.3 mm of the machined surface and 0.15 mm in the remaining area. The
inserts have been modeled in tungsten carbide (WC) with 8% in Cobalt has been characterized
using the software default material library. They have been modeled as rigid and meshed with
1500 elements having as small dimension of 0.004 mm in the nose zone in order to well
approximate the small radius of curvature in this area. A constant frictional stress law on rake face
is assumed equal to a fixed percentage of the shear flow stress of the machined material, Equation
4.

m k (4)

Where k is the shear flow stress of the workpiece material and m is a friction factor, assumed
equal to 0.5. A value of 100 kW/m
2
K has been adopted to model the interface heat transfer
coefficient, h, between tool and burr. The workpiece material is Inconel 718 with chemical
composition that is in compliance with regulation AMS 5662 and with a given standard solution
heat treatment and a two-step precipitation or aging heat treatment. For this type of material,
proper values were defined for the following characteristics: Youngs module; Poissons ratio;
Thermal expansion; Heat capacity; Emissivity; Thermal conductivity. Corresponding values are
experimentally defined in the range of temperature [20C; 1200C]. For workpiece material
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characterization in plastic field was adopted a Johnson Cook constitutive model, Equation 5 (Del
Prete, 2007).

( )
0
1 ln 1
m
n room
eq
melt Room
T T
A B C
T T

, ]
, ] j \ j \
, ]
+ +
, ] , ( , (
, ]
, ] ( , ( , ]
]

(5)

where is the plastic strain, is the strain rate (s-1),
0
is the reference plastic strain rate (s-1).
T is the material temperature (C), T
melt
is the melting material temperature (1400 C) and T
room
is
the room temperature (20 C). Coefficient A is the yield strength (MPa), B is the hardening
modulus (MPa), C is the strain rate sensitivity coefficient, n is the hardening coefficient and m the
thermal softening coefficient (Uhulmann,2007).

3. Case Study
A CCOC (Combustor Chamber Outer Casing) of an aeronautical engine in Inconel 718 has been
chosen to test the developed methodology. A part program that involves the use of milling
operations has been selected; this operation involves the use of two rough and seven finish tools.
The related Part Program which has about 15000 instruction blocks has been simulated and the
machining time has been computed. In Figure , it is reported the machining operation sequence: 1)
Pocket opening; 2) Chamfer roughing; 3) Pocket milling.



Figure 8: Tool-path simulation of examined PP (by courtesy of AVIO S.p.A).

Part Program obtained whit standard CAD-CAM procedure has been subjected to kinematic
optimization: this operation has as output a new Part Program. The new simulation predicted a
reduction in machining time of 48% compared to the not optimized Part Program. This reduction
is obtained increasing the F values but, the tool path trajectory is the same of the original Part
Program. The performed kinematic optimization does not take into account the physical
interaction between tool and workpiece. In the proposed multidisciplinary procedure the feed and
speed indicated in the obtained Part Program thanks to the kinematic optimization have to be
extracted and compared with the response surface in terms of temperature and forces generated
(Figure 9) (Del Prete, 2009).

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Figure 9: workflow of the proposed procedure.

The multidisciplinary optimization tool draws F and S values from the kinematic optimized Part
Program and converts them into the required measure units of the response surface. In the Part
Program, F and S are respectively expressed in [m\min] and [rpm] and it is necessary to convert
them into [mm\tooth-rev] and [mm\s]. So proper equivalent relationships, Equation 6 and
Equation 7 have been used to obtain the correct parameters expressions:

F
f
S z

[mm\tooth-rev] (6) ;
60
t
S D
V

[mm\s] (7)

The obtained values of a
z
and V
t
have been introduced in the response surfaces. The correspondent
temperature, forces and surface roughness have been detected. This outputs must be less then the
given fixed physical constraints. If the correspondent values of cutting edge temperature T
max
, F
x

, F
y
for a single a
z
exceeded the established limits an inferior value has been considered in
compliance with the fixed limits of T
max
, F
x
, F
y
. The optimized f values, have been reconverted in
the unit of measure adopted in the Part Program and rewritten in the correspondent block of the
optimized Part Program (Figure 10).

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Figure 10: Flowchart of input-output process parameters optimization.

3.1. Multidisciplinary optimization procedure: introduction
The aim of presented work is to develop a process with Isight in order to optimize the process
parameters: feed rate (F) and cutting speed (S) (minimize the time to work through the
maximization of values used in the process) present in a part program while respecting the
imposed constraints (maximum allowable cutting forces, maximum allowable cutting temperature
and maximum allowable surface roughness). The relationship among the parameters F and S for a
given cutting tool and the responses that we want to control are obtained through interpolation
with approximation technique of data on cutting forces and cutting edge temperatures obtained by
FEM simulations. The procedure introduces the instructions of tool substitution (cambut) in the
part program based on the tool life defined by the user for each tool. Finally, the procedure creates
a post-processing report that includes table of modified parameters in the PP and graphs that
comparing the time execution of different examined part programs (original PP, Kinematic
optimized PP and part program obtained respecting the physical constraints).

3.2. Multidisciplinary optimization procedure: description
In this section it is reported the procedure that characterize the automatic procedure for part
program optimization with imposed physical constraints. The flow of process activities takes place
from left to right, there is also a branch of the procedure dependent on the possibility of launching
an analysis of OptiPATH (Figure 11). The macro steps of developed procedure are listed below:
1. Reading and loading of the PP and VERICUT project in the procedure.
2. Simulation of the original part program in VERICUT and extraction of tools working time
information.
3. If the project Vericut has appropriate settings for the OptiPATH analysis, the process of
creating the kinematic optimized part-program is enabled in VERICUT and the new cutting time is
logged.
4. In the task called "Vericut CAE-CAM Optimization" are performed the operations below
indicated:
a. For each tool used in the part program, the cutting parameters feed (F) and speed (S) of
each blocks are extracted and optimized (the objective is to maximize the feed rate)
respect the imposed physical constraints.
b. For each tool used in the examined part program, the parameters F and S originally
indicated are replaced with those optimized
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c. Then the new part program is executed and registered with VERICUT cutting times of
each step of the part program.
d. Depending on the working time indicated for each tool in the tools wear life database,
all preexisting cambut are removed and new cambut are inserted in the optimized part
program.
5. Finally, the report text file created during the procedure (time, speed of cut set, tool changes,
etc.) are read and processed in Excel charts.




Figure 11: Optimization procedure layout in Isight gateway.

The procedure requires two input files: the part program created by the user (of course consistent
with the Vericut project file) and the Vericut project file that defines the simulation configuration.
in Vericut environment . The procedure returns as output Excel files containing information of a
post-processing and the optimize part program according to the imposed constraints about cutting
parameters and tools wear life (Figure 12). The files returned from the procedure are:

Template_cambut: the Excel report on the changes included in the tool part-program

Total_Time: table containing the total time of different analyzed part-program

PPfile_optimized_RSM: optimized part-program.

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Figure 12: Scheme of the main input/output parameters of the procedure.

The data about micro-scale physical cutting conditions for each tool, obtained through FEM
simulations, are contained in an Excel file, which has a name like:
RSM_UT_ <Tool id>. Xls, for example RSM_UT_55.xls
In this study the authors have used the RSM developed on the base of data obtained by FEM
calculations to represent the behaviour for the analyzed responses for all the tools used in the
analyzed PP. For each tool the process parameters design space has been adequate to its operative
range. All Excel files relating to the data obtained for each tools have been grouped in a zip file
and stored within the model.

3.3. Process parameters optimization
This activity aims to obtain a procedure that allows to minimize the execution time of the cutting
process in compliance to physical micro-scale limits (Max cutting edge temperature and Cutting
Forces). In this work, the optimization process is based on approximation methodology. This
methodology was used by lot of researchers for modelling machining processes. It has been also
successfully used for application in surface roughness analysis (Del Prete, 2010). In the presented
study, the authors have used the data obtained by FEA to build mathematical approximation
models by RBF technique (Radial Basis Function). These mathematical models have been coupled
with a Pointer Algorithmic to obtain the optimal set of machining parameters in according with the
constraints and objective function are indicated in the optimization problem of follow described :

Variables : V
t
within range of definition
f within range of definition
Constraints : max admissible cutting edge temperature T
max

max admissible cutting force F
x
,
max

max admissible cutting force F
y,

max

Objective Function : maximize feed rate f

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The parameters: Feed (F) and speed (S) contained in the PP blocks, that previously have
underwent kinematic optimization, are optimized by optimization algorithm that queries the
approximation models, trained on the basis of numerical data, to meet the requirements of physical
constraints (T
max
, F
x
and F
y
) within the upper limits, imposed by user, and to maximize the feed
rate. The new set of process parameters have been converted into the units of measure used in the
Part Program and then they have been updated the respective blocks. The optimization algorithm
used in this study is a generic algorithm called Pointer: this algorithm has the peculiarity of using
different optimization techniques depending on the behavior of the objective function, because the
optimization algorithm initially interrogates the function trying to understand its nature (e.g. if is
continuous, or nonlinear or discontinuous) and therefore using the optimization technique most
appropriate. The Pointer technique consists of a complementary set of optimization algorithms:
linear simplex, sequential quadratic programming, downhill simplex, and genetic algorithms.
Since all the optimizer control parameters are automatically set with a special control algorithm,
Pointer can efficiently solve a wide range of problems in a fully automatic manner (Isight users
guide, 2009). After the rewriting of the optimized parameters, the new PP is simulated again in
Vericut and the execution time is recorded. Based on each tool maximum working time defined by
the user, new cambut instructions are included in the optimized part program. These new cambut
instructions replace the originals, that are deleted.

3.4. Optimization results
Parameter File iSight-FD called PPfile_optimized_RSM contains the part program with the
optimized F, S optimized and new Cambut instructions . The kinematic optimization does not
modify the tool path but, it produce some breaks in the path depending on the local quantity of
material that has to be removed. Spindle speed remains constant. The numbering of kinematic
optimized PP changes with a zero that is added respect to the numbering used in CAM part
program. Another characteristic of Optipath PP is that the tools displacements, when they are not
engaged are characterized by very high feed rate. This value is not subjected to optimization by
CAE CAM procedure. At the same time the CAMBUT instructions present in the Optipath PP
have been removed through the insertion and their repositioning in the CAE-CAM Part Program
in according with the imposed tool life time.

3.5. Post-Processing report
Post processing consist on a summary table that indicates which part program blocks have been
modified in terms of F , S and cambut added/ deleted. Table and and graphs on the number of
instructions for tool change (cambut) included in the optimized part program (Figure 13). For each
mill used in the PP, the number of the tool substitution and the total number of insert necessary to
execute the operation are reported. Finally, post processing report shows total work execution time
in the three cases examined by the procedure: original CAM part program (CAM), kinematic
optimized part program (OPTIPATH) and optimized with physical constraints (OPTI-CAE)

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Figure 13: Table and graphs summary report about cambut insertions and working time of
analyzed part programs.

4. Conclusion
The presented application can be considered an effective procedure for the introduction, in the Part
Program previously optimized in terms of kinematic information, of the physics of the cutting
process (cutting edge temperature and forces exchanged between tool and workpiece). The
physical quantities were detected using response surfaces generated from data extracted from FEM
simulations performed on the basis of a DOE study. Three tool paths simulations have been ran
and the execution times have been compared in the case of: 1) Non optimized Part Program; 2)
Kinematic Optimized Part Program; 3) Optimized Part Program based on process parameters
selected in the kinematic optimization but updated with values for F and S parameters value
respecting the given physical constraints (Figure 13). The obtained results showed that the
kinematic optimization dramatically decreases the execution time of the analyzed Part Program
(reduction of 52% respect CAM PP). Moreover, the introduction of physical constraints reduces
this percentage to 18% but at the same time it allows to meet the technological constraints set to
control the tool wear. The CAE-CAM optimization (OPTI-CAE in Figure 13) has lowered many
of values (F and S ) present in the PP optimized kinematically (OPTIPATH in Figure 13). This has
caused an increase in processing time by 42% compared to the one required by the kinematically
optimized PP. As next step the authors will focus their efforts on the search of the numerical -
experimental correlation of the FEM models to improve the reliability of the RS models. Another
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aim of future research is direct to the introduction in the multidisciplinary procedure of additional
information about surface roughness, dynamic analysis (chatter) and so on. In the future, the intent
of the authors is to focus their efforts to get, thanks to the development and the integration of the
tools used software, a fully automatic multidisciplinary procedure.

5. References
A. Del Prete, A. Spagnolo, A. A. De Vitis, A. Anglani "Experimental evaluation of the influence
of part program optimization algorithms on surface roughness in milling operation" - 9st
AITeM Conference Torino, Italy, 2009

A. Weissinger. "Lift distribution of swept-back wings". NACA pp.1120, 1947.

ENGINEOUS SOFTWARE - iSIGHT Version 3.0 User's Guide - 2008.

A A Del Prete, A.A. De Vitis, D. Mazzotta, Design space investigation by RSM Techniques in
Aeronautical Metal cutting Applications - OPTI 09 Algarve, Portugal , 2009

E. Uhlmann, Finite Element Modeling and Cutting Simulation of Inconel 718. CIRP Annals -
Manufacturing Technology, 56(1), pp. 61-64, 2007.

A. Del Prete, A.A. De Vitis, D. Mazzotta, M. Cherubini Metal Cutting simulation as support tool
to Product and Process development of aeronautical components in Inconel 718 - 10th CIRP,
Scilla, Italy, 2007.

A. Del Prete, A.A. De Vitis, D. Mazzotta, A. Anglani Numerical Simulation of Broaching
Process in Aeronautical Applications - AMST'08 8
th
Udine, Italy, 2008

A Del Prete, A.A. De Vitis, A. Spagnolo, D. Mazzotta, Cutting Parameters Optimization through
an advanced CAE-CAM procedure - NAFEMS WC 09 Crete, Greece, 2009

A Del Prete, A.A. De Vitis, A. Anglani, Roughness inprovement in machining operations
through coupled metamodel and genetic algorithms technique - 13 th Esaform Conference -
Brescia, Italy, 2010

A Del Prete, A.A. De Vitis, A. Spagnolo, Experimental development of rsm techniques for
surface quality prediction in metal cutting applications - 13 th Esaform Conference - Brescia,
Italy, 2010.