ABSTRACT
Traditional molding-curing processes for manufacturing rubber parts have several disadvantages including high cost and labor-intensive processes of preparing the mold and inflexibility of the mold to various designs. In this chapter, the author conducts a series of rubber turning experiments to gain better understanding of mechanism of rubber machining. Specially designed fixture to secure the rubber workpiece is first introduced. Several variables examined in the tests included cutting speed, depth of cut, cutting tool geometry, and workpiece temperature. Cutting forces, machined surface temperature, and machined surface roughness are recorded and analyzed in the tests. From cutting tests, it has been shown that the morphology of rubber chips can be categorized into three basic types: continuous ribbon-like chips with a smooth machined surface, segmented chips with a rough machined surface, and discontinuous chips with an even worse surface finish, respectively.
