a b s t r a c tThis work investigated the influence of the material properties and cutting speed on the heat dissipation in the drilling of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites using uncoated WC-Co tools. The first stage of the investigation compared the heat dissipation in drilling three different CFRP systems by measuring the temperatures developed at different distances around the borehole using thermocouples and an infra-red camera. The second stage studied the influence of cutting speed on the maximum temperatures developed in the workpiece in drilling a selected CFRP system in a cutting speed range from 50 to 200 m/min. The cross-linking density of the polymer matrix and the degree of crystallinity and structure of the carbon fibres exhibited a significant influence on the overall temperature and on the heat dissipation, whereas 150-200 m/min cutting speeds yielded higher concentration of heat, compared to 50-100 m/min cutting speeds.

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This work investigates the applicability of Taylor's model on the drilling of CFRP using uncoated WC-Co tools, by assessing the influence of cutting speed (V c ) on tool wear. Two different resins, possessing low and high glass transition temperatures (T g ), and two different reinforcements, high strength and high modulus woven fabrics, were combined into three different systems. Flank wear rate gradient exhibited to be more reinforcement dependent, while the actual flank wear rate showed to be sensible also to the type of resin. In terms of tool life, all CFRP systems adjusted into a power-type tool life vs. cutting speed curve through the full range of cutting speeds (1,000 RPM to 18,000 RPM). Therefore, Taylor's model can be applied to estimate the tool life in the drilling of CFRP using uncoated WC-Co tools with good accuracy. 96 J.L. Merino-Pérez et al.Keywords: Taylor model; cutting speed; tool wear; flank wear; tool life; glass transition temperature; CFRP; SEM; drilling; machining; machinability.Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Merino-Pérez, J.L., Merson, E., Ayvar-Soberanis, S. and Hodzic, A. (2014) Sabino Ayvar-Soberanis is a Research Associate at the AMRC leading the research field of process modelling and residual stress measurements. He has worked in a range of industrial and research projects focused on the development of computer base models for machining processes as composite machining, metal cutting, and residual stress/machining distortion. He is also working and investigating different techniques for induced and bulk residual stress measurements.

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