Cutting force prediction of Ti6Al4V using a machine learning model of SPH orthogonal cutting process simulations

The prediction of machining processes is a challenging task and usually requires a large experimental basis. These experiments are time-consuming and require manufacturing and testing of different tool geometries at various process conditions to find optimum machining settings. In this paper, a machine learning model of the orthogonal cutting process of Ti6Al4V is proposed to predict the cutting and feed forces for a wide range of process conditions with regards to rake angle, clearance angle, cutting edge radius, feed and cutting speed. The model uses training data generated by virtual experiments, which are conducted using physical based simulations of the orthogonal cutting process with the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). The ML training set is composed of input parameters, and output process forces from 2500 instances of GPU accelerated SPH simulations. The resulting model provides fast process force predictions and can consider the cutter geometry in comparison to classical analytical approaches.