Abstract
Because of effective machining operations with a very small amount of cutting fluids, near-dry machining attracts increasing attentions for environmental and economical benefits. MQL machining has so far been recognized as the most representative near-dry method and it is highly successful in machining of most ordinary steels. Recent concern for environmentally friendly manufacturing further encourages the attempts at applying near-dry operations to machining of difficult-to-cut materials. Since titanium alloys are typical difficult-to-cut materials, this paper investigates the cutting performance of various near-dry methods in turning of a titanium alloy from the view point of elongating the tool life. As a result, coolant mist supply provided longer tool life than that of the regular MQL operation or dry machining.
