Cryogenic machining uses liquid nitrogen (LN2) as a coolant. This machining process can reduce the cutting temperature and increase tool life. Titanium alloys have been widely used in the aerospace and automobile industries because of their high strength-to-weight ratio. However, they are difficult to machine because of their poor thermal properties, which reduce tool life. In this study, we applied cryogenic machining to titanium alloys. Orthogonal cutting experiments were performed at a low cutting speed (1.2 - 2.1 m/min) in three cooling conditions: dry, cryogenic, and cryogenic plus heat. Cutting force and friction coefficients were observed to evaluate the machining characteristics for each cooling condition. For the cryogenic condition, cutting force and friction coefficients increased, but decreased for the cryogenic plus heat condition.

In this study, flexible fixtures and end effectors are conceptually designed for the holding of thin-walled carbon-fiber reinforced-plastic (CFRP) workpieces in machining processes. Firstly, the fixture scenarios and system requirements for the conceptual designs of flexible-fixture and core units are proposed, including the propounding of the workpiece-holding mechanism and the core-unit requirements. A ball-joint pneumatic system is determined as a locking mechanism of the flexible-fixture system for the machining of thin-walled components. Secondly, conceptual designs of the core units are suggested with the driven requirements from the fixture scenarios. A self-tilting mechanism and an end-effector return mechanism are also proposed. Finally, the prototypes of the core units are manufactured, and the workpiece-holding capacity of each prototype is measured.

Titanium alloy has been widely used in the aerospace industry because of its high strength and good corrosion resistance. During cutting, the low thermal conductivity and high chemical reactivity of titanium generate a high cutting temperature and accelerates tool wear. To improve cutting tool life, cryogenic machining by using a liquid nitrogen (LN2) jet is suggested. In cryogenic jet cooling, evaporation of LN2 in the tank and transfer tube could cause pressure fluctuation and change the cooling rate. In this work, cooling uniformity is investigated in terms of liquid nitrogen jet pressure in cryogenic jet cooling during titanium alloy turning. Fluctuation of jet spraying pressure causes tool temperature to fluctuate. It is possible to suppress the fluctuation of the jet pressure and improve cooling by using a phase separator. Measuring tool temperature shows that consistent LN2 jet pressure improves cryogenic cooling uniformity.

This paper presents a numerical study on the thermal characteristics of a milling process of titanium alloy with nanofluid minimum-quantity lubrication (MQL). The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach is introduced for establishing the numerical model for the nanofluid MQL milling process, and estimated temperatures for pure MQL and for nanofluid MQL using both hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and nanodiamond particles are compared with the temperatures measured by thermocouples in the titanium alloy workpiece. The estimated workpiece temperatures are similar to experimental ones, and the model is validated.

Spectrally resolved interferometry (SRI) is an attractive technique to measure absolute distances without any moving components. In the spectral interferogram obtained by a spectrometer, the optical path difference (OPD) can simply be extracted from the linear slope of the spectral phase. However, SRI has a fundamental measuring range limitation due to maximum and minimum measurable distances. In addition, SRI cannot distinguish the OPD direction because the spectral interferogram is in the form of a natural sinusoidal function. In this investigation, we describe a direction determining SRI and propose the optimal conditions for determining OPD direction. Spectral phase nonlinearity, caused by a dispersive material, effects OPD direction but deteriorates spectral interferogram visibility. In the experiment, various phase nonlinearities were measured by adjusting the dispersive material (BK7) thickness. We observed the interferogram visibility and the possibility of direction determination. Based on the experimental results, the optimal dispersion conditions are provided to distinguish OPD directions of SRI.

Velocity ripple in manufacturing processes reduces productivity and limits the precision of the product. In practice, the frequency and phase of velocity ripples always change minutely, which makes it impossible to compensate for the ripple by simply inserting an opposite feed-forward signal in the system. In this study, an active-phase compensation algorithm was developed to enable the velocity-ripple controller to track the phase change of the ripples in real time. The proposed controller can compensate for the velocity ripple whatever its cause, including disturbance by the torque ripple. The algorithm consists of three functional modules: the velocity-ripple extractor, the synchronized integrator, and the phase shifter. Experimental results showed that the proposed controller clearly reduces velocity ripples with phase variation.

In sheet metal forming numerical analysis, the strain hardening equation has a significant effect on calculation results, especially in the field of spring-back. This study introduces the Kim-Tuan strain hardening model. This model represents sheet material behavior over the entire strain hardening range. The proposed model is compared to other well known strain hardening models using a series of uniaxial tensile tests. These tests are performed to determine the stress-strain relationship for Al6016-T4, DP980, and CP Ti sheets. In addition, the Kim-Tuan model is used to integrate the CP Ti sheet strain hardening equation in ABAQUS analysis to predict spring-back amount in a bending test. These tests highlight the improved accuracy of the proposed equation in the numerical field. Bending tests to evaluate prediction accuracy are also performed and compared with numerical analysis results.

Since the performance of the spring operating mechanism for a circuit breaker mainly depends on the dynamic behavior and mass of the coil spring, its dynamic analysis is required to evaluate the performance of the spring operating mechanism. In this study, a coil spring design program is developed for the spring operating mechanism. An experimental approach is used to find the variables satisfying the design constraints' requirements. The coil spring is formed by using a lumped mass spring model. This program offers reference data for the design of coil springs and for the spring operating mechanism.

A gas turbine is the main equipment used in a combined heat and power plant. It generates a high sound pressure noise level. To reduce the noise level, an enclosure is installed around the turbine. The sound insulation performance of the enclosure affects the amount of external noise reduction. In this study, a sound transmission loss analysis is performed using the boundary element method to predict sound insulation performance according to the numbers and shapes of the supporter. Radiated noise analysis is also performed for the main external points of the enclosure using ray-acoustics. The results of these analyses are presented and a design plan is proposed that reduces the sound pressure noise level of the enclosure.

In this study, we developed a 3D chocolate printer and studied the conditions needed for chocolate printing. Because chocolate is a mixture of cocoa mass, cocoa butter and sugar particles, its properties vary with temperature, and care is required in melting and extrusion. A chocolate supply unit is composed of a heating block and a syringe pump. It is integrated with a 3-axis linear robot. In order to be more accurate than the existing 3D chocolate printer is, the system was configured so that the printing line width became $430{\mu}m$. Printing performance was studied according to various parameters. The condition needed for printing lines with a stable width was discovered by the experimental design method and has been confirmed by a 2D line test. These 3D printing experiments showed that it was possible to build a 3D shape with an inclination angle of up to $45^{\circ}$ without support. Further, chocolate printing of a 3D shape has been successfully verified with the developed system.