Abstract
This study analyzed thevariation in the cutting force when the cutting area of a terrace volume is machined, which is generally left after the rough cutting of a sculptured surface. The numerically simulated results for the cutting forces are compared with cutting force measurements by considering the theoretical prediction of the cutting area formation and specific cutting volume. The variation in the cutting force is measured using a dynamometer installed on a machining center for 19 different kinds of test pieces, which are selected according to the variation in the terrace volume factor, tool diameter factor, and cutting depth factor. As a result, it is verified that the cutting forces evaluated by the numerical analysis coincide with the measured cutting forces, and it is proposed as a practical cutting force prediction model.