On stability and dynamics of milling at small radial immersion

Stability and dynamics of milling at small radial immersion are investigated. Stability charts are predicted by the Semi Discretization method. Two types of instability are predicted corresponding to quasiperiodic and periodic chatter. The quasiperiodic chatter lobes are open and distributed along the spindle speed axis only, while the periodic chatter lobes are closed curves distributed in the plane of spindle speed and depth of cut. Experiments confirm the stability predictions, revealing the two principal types of chatter, the bounded periodic chatter lobes, and some special chatter cases. The recorded tool deflections in these cutting regimes are studied. The experiments also show that the modal properties of a slender tool may depend on spindle speed.