Abstract: Rotary friction welding produces joints by inserting wood dowels, with a specific rotation and feed rate, into pre-drilled holes made in wood substrates. Studies on the welding of fast-growing Eucalypts from Brazilian planted forests are recent. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the macro and microstructural and thermochemical changes at the dowel/substrate interface of Eucalypts welded joints from Brazilian planted forests and to determine the mechanical strength of two-piece Eucalypts welded joints. Specimens formed by eucalypts dowels and substrates were produced. Subsequently, visual evaluation and scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric, differential scanning calorimetry and tensile tests were performed. The results reveal that the rotary friction welding parameters adopted contribute to the densification of the welded interface and the formation of a structure responsible for joining the dowel and the substrate, providing mechanical strength to the joint. The cellulose crystallinity index and the apparent crystallite size of the Eucalypts welded sample increase due to thermal degradation of amorphous components. The rupture of the welded joints is ductile and their average strength is 2,1 MPa. Welded joints of fast-growing Eucalypts, from Brazilian planted forests, are suitable when the rotary friction welding parameters are similar to those used for Eucalypts woods from Australian forests.

Abstract Cemented carbides (WC-Co) are difficult to be processed by conventional machining processes. Electrical discharge machining (EDM) appears as an efficient technology to manufacture WC-Co products with high accuracy. In EDM literature no research works investigating the influences of different grades of CuW electrodes on geometrical characteristics when ED-machining the same cemented carbide was found. This work presents an investigation on ED-Machining of cemented carbide (WC-Co) with 10% Co using two grades of coper-tungsten (CuW) electrodes with 65% and 85% of tungsten. ED-Machining experiments were carried out under rough, semifinish and finish regimes with input variables discharge current ie, discharge duration te and pulse interval time to using analysis of variance (ANOVA) based on design of experiments with complete factorial 32. Output variables evaluated were WC-Co workpiece geometrical characteristics 3D surface roughness and round cavities circularity measures. Results showed that ED-Machining regime is the most significant parameter on both WC-Co workpiece circularity and surface roughness measures. Electrodes grades CuW65 and CuW85 presented similar results on workpiece circularity and 3D surface roughness.

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the cutting parameters on monocrystalline silicon cut by diamond wire sawing. The sawn surface was analyzed in terms of surface morphology, surface roughness, material removal mechanism and residual stress (by Raman spectroscopy). The surface morphology exhibited evidence of both material removal mechanisms: the brittle mode and the ductile mode. The surface roughness increased with a high vf, which promoted the formation of craters on the sawn surface. On applying a higher vc, the surface roughness reduced, since this favored the formation of damage-free grooves. The Raman spectrum showed evidence of different residual crystalline phases on the sawn surface, which confirms the material removal mechanisms. An increase in vf, for the same vc, caused at reduction in the compressive stress, since the brittle mode predominated as the material removal mechanism. Maintaining vf constant and increasing vc results in higher compressive stress, caused by plastic deformation of the silicon during chip formation.

The contact between grinding wheel and workpiece in the grinding process is recognized by acoustic emission (AE). Two acoustic emission monitoring systems (MS) were integrated into a 3 axis CNC grinding machine. A laptop allows the signal acquisition and visualization. The acquired AE RMS signals from the contact between tool and workpiece are analyzed permitting to establish the most suitable AE monitoring system to recognize the contact in a particular grinding machine. In a second experimental setup the selected MS was installed on a 7 axis tool grinding machine at an industrial partner. At this partner, the relative position between grinding wheel and workpiece was previously determined manually. This procedure has a direct influence on the results depending on the technical skills of the operator. The automation of this activity supported by acoustic emission has led to satisfactory results regarding the relative position between grinding wheel and workpiece and contributed to the setup time reduction.

At present, due to their properties, the tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) composite materials are in huge demand by industry to manufacture special tools, dies/molds and components under erosion. The powder metallurgy is the usual process applied to obtain WC-Co products, but in some cases this process is unable to produce tools of very complex shapes and highly intricate details. Thus, additional conventional and non-conventional machining processes are required. In this context, the electrical discharge machining (EDM) is an efficient alternative process. However, the EDM parameters have to be properly set for any different tungsten carbide-cobalt composition and electrode material to achieve an appropriate level of machining performance. In this work, a special grade of tungsten carbide-cobalt was used as workpiece and a copper-tungsten alloy as electrode. Experiments on important EDM electrical and non-electrical parameter settings with reference to material removal rate, electrode wear ratio and surface roughness were carried out under typical rough and finish machining. This paper contributes with an attempt to provide insightful guidelines to optimize electrical discharge machining of WC-Co composite materials using CuW alloy electrodes.