Effect of cryogenic minimum quantity lubrication (CMQL) on cutting temperature and tool wear in high-speed end milling of titanium alloys

Cryogenic minimum quantity lubrication (CMQL) is a kind of green cooling/lubrication technique, which consists of the application of a small amount of lubricant (6-100 ml/h), delivered in a refrigerated compressed gas stream to the cutting zone. This paper experimentally investigates the effect of CMQL on cutting temperature and tool wear in high-speed end milling of titanium alloys. Comparative experiments were conducted under different cooling/lubrication conditions, i.e. dry milling, refrigerated air cutting, and CMQL. The refrigerated gas equipment was manufactured based on composite refrigeration method to provide the refrigerated air. The experimental results show that application of CMQL resulted in drastic reduction in cutting temperature and tool wear especially when machining titanium alloys at a high cutting speed.