DESIGN AND TESTING OF COATED/UNCOATED 3D PRINTED MILLING TOOL

Coventry University

The project involves additive manufacturing of end mill tools (flat and ball types), evaluating their machining capability on aluminum blocks using SEM and EDX analyses.

Results

3D printed end mills successfully machined aluminum, though with some breakage and chip formation issues. Flat end mills performed better than ball end mills, closely matching the performance of conventional carbide tools.

Recommendations

• Modify tool design for improved strength and chip clearance.
• Increase spindle speed and feed rate.
• Ensure uniform material filling during manufacturing.

Images