Experimental Study and Computer Modelling of Thermal Friction Treatment Process of the HARDOX 450 Steel

Abstract

Global integration of domestic and foreign manufacturers has led to an increase in the use of foreign equipment in the domestic industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK). In this regard, new materials with different chemical compositions and mechanical properties are used increasingly in production. When machining such materials, difficulties associated with the choice of cutting modes, tooling, and technological equipment will appear due to the lack of appropriate recommendations in the available reference and technical sources and normative documents. One such material is HARDOX steel. This paper presents the results of experimental studies of the machinability of HARDOX steel and computer simulation of the thermal friction cutting process. By means of computer modelling, the information on temperature distribution in the "tool-workpiece" contact zone during thermal friction cutting of HARDOX 450 steel has been obtained. The results of experimental studies have shown that by determining the optimal cutting modes it is possible to achieve high-quality indicators of machined surfaces and to control the process of thermal friction cutting, in particular the size of burrs. The results of the computer modelling have shown that cutting modes differently affect the temperature of the sub-contact surface and the temperature can reach the recrystallization temperature. It has been found out that machining at optimal modes (n = 1800 rpm, S = 35 mm/min) provides the invariability of physical and mechanical properties of the machined surface for steel HARDOX 450.