A Study on the Characteristics of Micro-hole Machining for Difficult-to-cut Al 30%/SiC 70% Metal Matrix Composite Materials

Abstract

MMC (Metal Matrix Composites) materials are attracting attention in various industries and research fields asmaterials that improve the mechanical properties of metal and provide additional properties by dispersingreinforcing materials such as ceramics, carbon, and metal fibers within the metal matrix. MMC, which iscomposed of a high proportion of SiC in Al base metal, despite its excellent physical properties, is classified asa difficult-to-machine material due to poor machinability due to the hardness and wear resistance of SiCparticles. In this paper, tool durability tests and cutting conditions for optimal tool selection in micro-holemachining of MMC material composed of 70% SiC-30% Al are compared for surface roughness depending onwhether or not ultrasonic vibration is added during cutting. Trends were considered. In addition, the cuttingpatterns that appear during MMC material machining were analyzed using SEM photographs.