TY - JOUR ID - 73189 TI - Energy Efficiency Analyses of Toolpaths in a Pocket Milling Process JO - International Journal of Engineering JA - IJE LA - en SN - 1025-2495 AU - Edem, I. F AU - Balogun, V. A AD - Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, Mkpat Enin, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. AD - Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Edo University Iyamho, Iyamho-Uzairue, Edo State, Nigeria Y1 - 2018 PY - 2018 VL - 31 IS - 5 SP - 847 EP - 855 KW - Energy efficiency KW - modelling KW - machining KW - Toolpath Strategies KW - NC Codes KW - Feed Axes DO - N2 - This paper presents an approach to analytically determine the most energy efficient toolpath strategy in mechanical machining. This was achieved by evaluating the electrical energy requirement of the NC codes generated for the zag, zigzag, and rectangular contour toolpath strategies. The analytical method was validated by performing pocket milling on AISI 1018 steel with the considered toolpaths using a 3-axis Takisawa Mac-V3 milling machine. The rectangular contour toolpath was the most efficient in terms of the electrical energy demand of the feed axes and cycle time. Pocket milling with the zigzag toolpath strategy resulted in higher electrical energy demand of the feed axes and cycle time by 2% due to acceleration and deceleration characteristics of the machine tool feed axes execution at corners of the toolpath strategy adopted. Also, the electrical energy demand of the feed axes and cycle time for the zag toolpath were higher by 14% and 8%, respectively, due to the number of tool retracts as a result of the executed toolpath strategy. The experimental validation results showed good agreement with the analytical approach presented in this study. It can be deduced that for sustainable machining, the rectangular contour toolpath should be adopted since it has less tool retractions irrespective of the toolpath strategy adopted for machining. This could further enhance the selection of optimum green parameters by shop floor process engineers for sustainable manufacture of products. UR - https://www.ije.ir/article_73189.html L1 - https://www.ije.ir/article_73189_da1d3357b2fe7d4aafe591e24ae09b59.pdf ER -