This paper aims to examine the use of a commercial pyrometer to measure the surface temperature of workpieces as machining takes place. The pyrometer readings are to be compared with model predictions.
The pyrometer was mounted on an industrial milling machine and the temperature of the workpiece was measured behind the cutting tool as it traversed the workpiece. A mathematical spreadsheet model was used to predict the temperatures at the point measured by the pyrometer and at the point where cutting took place.
It was found by selecting the “partition ratio” of the power being transmitted to the workpiece that agreement could be found between measured and predicted results.
The work was mainly carried out on aluminium samples, which exhibited low cutting temperatures.
The paper describes a method of finding the partition ratio of heat going into the workpiece.
