Influence of vibration parameters on ultrasonic elliptical vibration cutting of reaction-bonded silicon carbide

Reaction-bonded silicon carbide (RB-SiC) possesses a low machinability due to its hard-brittle characteristics, as well as the poor synergetic deformation behavior between different phases. In the present work, we perform finite element simulations to explore ultrasonic elliptical vibration cutting (UEVC) of RB-SiC using single crystalline diamond tool, with an emphasis on its dependence on utilized vibration parameters. Corresponding UEVC experiments using the same machining and material parameters with the simulations are also carried out to verify the prediction results. Simulation and experimental results reveal individual tool-particle interactions, as well as their correlations with machining force and machined surface quality. It is found that the frequency and amplitude of the two-dimensional vibrations have important influences on the cutting processes. And optimized values of vibration frequency and vibration amplitudes along both cutting direction and depth of cut direction for achieving rationalized cutting performance of RB-SiC by applying the UEVC are found.