The generation of mechanical characteristics in workpiece subsurface layers as a result of the cutting process has a predominant influence on the performance properties of machined parts. The effect of the end milling process on the mechanical characteristics of the machined subsurface layers was evaluated using nondestructive methods: instrumented nanoindentation and sclerometry (scratching). In this paper, the influence of one of the common processes of materials processing by cutting-the process of end tool milling-on the generation of mechanical characteristics of workpiece machined subsurface layers is studied. The effect of the end milling process on the character of mechanical property formation was evaluated through the coincidence of the cutting process energy characteristics with the mechanical characteristics of the machined subsurface layers. The total cutting power and cutting work in the tertiary cutting zone area were used as energy characteristics of the end milling process. The modes of the end milling process are considered as the main parameters affecting these energy characteristics. The mechanical characteristics of the workpiece machined subsurface layers were the microhardness of the subsurface layers and the total work of indenter penetration, determined by instrumental nanoindentation, and the maximum depth of indenter penetration, determined by sclerometry. Titanium alloy Ti10V2Fe3Al (Ti-1023) was used as the machining material. Based on the evaluation of the coincidence of the cutting process energy characteristics with the specified mechanical characteristics of the machined subsurface layers, the milling mode effect of the studied titanium alloy, in particular the cutter feed and cutting speed, on the generated mechanical characteristics was established.
Keywords: cutting; indenter penetration depth; indenter penetration work; milling; nanoindentation; sclerometry; subsurface layers.