Abstract:
The aim of this research was to experimentally investigate and compare the wear performance
of tungsten carbide drills used in conventional and modulation assisted drilling (MAD). During
MAD, modulations of low frequency and high amplitude were superimposed on tool motion in
the feed direction. Direct measurement of flank wear land was used as tool condition monitoring
method. Since the width of flank wear was not regular along the cutting edge, the maximum flank
wear, VBmax, was measured using a toolmaker’s microscope. The drills were inspected under the
scanning electron microscope to establish the possible wear mechanism. The results indicate that
the drills used in MAD were better in resisting tool wear than those used in conventional drilling.
However, at higher feed during MAD, a catastrophic failure of drill occurred due to fracture of
cutting edge.
