Abstract
High-speed cutting experiment of a natural rubber was carried out in order to clarify the characteristic of high-speed cutting of viscoelastic materials. Cutting speeds ranging from 1 m/s to 150 m/s were examined. The influence of the rake angle was also examined. The following findings were obtained. Large viscoelastic deformation ahead of the cutting edge degrades the geometrical accuracy of the machined surface regardless of the cutting speed and rake angel. Higher rake angle, however, diminishes the tear defects on the machined surface. Shear stress on the shear zone rises as the cutting speed increases. This is attributed to the increase of the viscous drag of a viscoelastic material.
