Technical Information: Forces and Power Requirements
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The forces in machining can be determined with a tool dynamometer. In turning, the tool dynamometer usually measures three components:
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- Tangential, or cutting force
- Thrust, or separating force
- Feed, or axial force
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The cutting force is important since, when multiplied by the cutting velocity, it determines the power requirements in titanium machining. The thrust, or separating force, determines the accuracy produced on a part.
For general approximations, the power requirements in turning and milling can be obtained by measuring the power input to the machine tool’s drive motor during a cutting operation and by subtracting from it the tare, or idle power. A good approximation of the horsepower required in most machining operations can be predicted from unit power requirements.
