Micromilling of NiTi Shape-Memory Alloys with Ball Nose Cutters

Micromilling of NiTi shape-memory alloys (SMA) places high demands on tools and machining processes. NiTi is classified as a difficult-to-cut material due to its special properties. A new approach to machine NiTi with higher process flexibility is the application of ball nose cutters in micromilling processes. The article presents the latest results of the simulation-based analysis of five-axis micromilling processes of NiTi SMA. The emphasis is placed on the influence of different tool inclinations, the range of applicable cutting speeds, and a comparison of different machining properties of martensitic and austenitic NiTi alloys. Furthermore, this simulation-based approach helps in exploring new possibilities to optimize the NC-code programming of milling.