On-line condition monitoring of tool wear in end milling using acoustic emission

Abstract

The monitoring of tool wear is important in maintaining the quality of workpieces produced. This paper presents a methodology to monitor on-line tool wear in end milling using acoustic emission. It is well known that the root-mean-square (RMS) value of the acoustic emission is directly proportional to the power expended in turning. A mathematical model has been developed to predict the RMS value of the acoustic-emission signal in milling. This mathematical model incorporates the machining parameters as variables. The accuracy of the model has been verified by a series of experiments. The experiments were carried out on a Bridgeport milling machine and data was collected and analysed by using an on-line computer data acquisition system. A comparison of the experimental and theoretical RMS values indicates a very good agreement between them. A control strategy similar to the moving average/moving range charts has been developed for monitoring on-line tool wear. The limits for the control charts were obtained from the theoretical equation of statistical quality control. An observation of the control charts clearly indicates the region of tool failure and the time at which the tool failed. The philosophy behind the use of control charts is based on the ease of implementation and widespread use in industry.