Evaluation of chip breaker designs on tool life and hole integrity in drilling of HFRP/Al composite

Abstract In this study, drilling of a newly developed lightweight fire-retardant carbon/glass-fiber-reinforced polymer epoxy sandwich that includes an aluminum honeycomb core with modified epoxy (HFRP/Al sandwich composite) is investigated. A new high-performance insert combination comprising centra...

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Main Authors: Muhammad Zubair Afzal, Sarmad Ali Khan, Muhammad Umar Farooq, Atif Javaid, Saqib Anwar, Adeolu A. Adediran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03793-z
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author Muhammad Zubair Afzal
Sarmad Ali Khan
Muhammad Umar Farooq
Atif Javaid
Saqib Anwar
Adeolu A. Adediran
author_facet Muhammad Zubair Afzal
Sarmad Ali Khan
Muhammad Umar Farooq
Atif Javaid
Saqib Anwar
Adeolu A. Adediran
author_sort Muhammad Zubair Afzal
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In this study, drilling of a newly developed lightweight fire-retardant carbon/glass-fiber-reinforced polymer epoxy sandwich that includes an aluminum honeycomb core with modified epoxy (HFRP/Al sandwich composite) is investigated. A new high-performance insert combination comprising central-stepped and peripheral-wiper inserts is evaluated. The geometry of the central insert is kept constant while two variations in chip breaker (C B ) designs are introduced on wiper inserts differentiated mainly based on C B width and C B depth. Variation one abbreviated as LM geometry has a C B depth of 65 μm and a C B width of 1000 μm while the second variation terms as GT geometry has a C B depth of 20 μm and a C B width of 720 μm. This study is conducted in two phases at a constant speed (CS) of 50 m/min in a dry-cutting environment. Phase I involved four tests, in each test ten holes are drilled with LM and GT geometries at two different feed rates (0.08 and 0.16 mm/rev). Based on reduced diametric error, and delamination, tests with a feed rate (FR) of 0.08 mm/rev are selected for Phase-II analysis, which involves the evaluation of tool life testing. The results in terms of tool life, diametric error, and delamination factors are reported. Notably, the GT geometry of the wiper inserts outperformed the LM geometry in terms of 33% higher tool life compared to its LM counterpart. In addition, the diametric error and delamination factor are substantially lower with the former geometry in comparison to the latter one. The better performance of GT geometry is attributed to its better chip flow and robust design.
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spelling doaj-art-c6f9dda211fd4a4da534de302f02bb8c2025-08-20T03:16:52ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-03793-zEvaluation of chip breaker designs on tool life and hole integrity in drilling of HFRP/Al compositeMuhammad Zubair Afzal0Sarmad Ali Khan1Muhammad Umar Farooq2Atif Javaid3Saqib Anwar4Adeolu A. Adediran5Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Engineering and TechnologyDepartment of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Engineering and TechnologySchool of Mechanical Engineering, University of LeedsDepartment of Polymer and Process Engineering, University of Engineering and TechnologyIndustrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering Science, University of JohannesburgAbstract In this study, drilling of a newly developed lightweight fire-retardant carbon/glass-fiber-reinforced polymer epoxy sandwich that includes an aluminum honeycomb core with modified epoxy (HFRP/Al sandwich composite) is investigated. A new high-performance insert combination comprising central-stepped and peripheral-wiper inserts is evaluated. The geometry of the central insert is kept constant while two variations in chip breaker (C B ) designs are introduced on wiper inserts differentiated mainly based on C B width and C B depth. Variation one abbreviated as LM geometry has a C B depth of 65 μm and a C B width of 1000 μm while the second variation terms as GT geometry has a C B depth of 20 μm and a C B width of 720 μm. This study is conducted in two phases at a constant speed (CS) of 50 m/min in a dry-cutting environment. Phase I involved four tests, in each test ten holes are drilled with LM and GT geometries at two different feed rates (0.08 and 0.16 mm/rev). Based on reduced diametric error, and delamination, tests with a feed rate (FR) of 0.08 mm/rev are selected for Phase-II analysis, which involves the evaluation of tool life testing. The results in terms of tool life, diametric error, and delamination factors are reported. Notably, the GT geometry of the wiper inserts outperformed the LM geometry in terms of 33% higher tool life compared to its LM counterpart. In addition, the diametric error and delamination factor are substantially lower with the former geometry in comparison to the latter one. The better performance of GT geometry is attributed to its better chip flow and robust design.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03793-zDrillingHFRPWiper insertFlank wearDiametric error
spellingShingle Muhammad Zubair Afzal
Sarmad Ali Khan
Muhammad Umar Farooq
Atif Javaid
Saqib Anwar
Adeolu A. Adediran
Evaluation of chip breaker designs on tool life and hole integrity in drilling of HFRP/Al composite
Scientific Reports
Drilling
HFRP
Wiper insert
Flank wear
Diametric error
title Evaluation of chip breaker designs on tool life and hole integrity in drilling of HFRP/Al composite
title_full Evaluation of chip breaker designs on tool life and hole integrity in drilling of HFRP/Al composite
title_fullStr Evaluation of chip breaker designs on tool life and hole integrity in drilling of HFRP/Al composite
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of chip breaker designs on tool life and hole integrity in drilling of HFRP/Al composite
title_short Evaluation of chip breaker designs on tool life and hole integrity in drilling of HFRP/Al composite
title_sort evaluation of chip breaker designs on tool life and hole integrity in drilling of hfrp al composite
topic Drilling
HFRP
Wiper insert
Flank wear
Diametric error
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03793-z
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