New approach for chip-form characterization in metal machining

This paper introduces a new fuzzy logic-based chip-form characterization method for use in CAPP systems. This method uses both linguistic and numerical descriptions of chip-forms. The chips produced in metal machining are characterized into five systematic groups (Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor and Very Poor) with corresponding certainty levels based on their sizes and shapes. This approach provides a basis for quantifying chip breakability for use in predictive assessment of machining performance at the machining process planning stage.