Tool Condition Monitoring Using Artificial Neural Network Models

Tool wear is a major factor that affects the productivity of any machining operation and needs to be controlled for achieving automation. It affects the surface finish, tolerances, dimensions of the workpiece, increases machine down time, and sometimes performance of machine tool and personnel are affected. This chapter deals with the application of artificial neural network (ANN) models for tool condition monitoring (TCM) in milling operations. The data required for training and testing the models studied and developed are from live experiments conducted in a machine shop on a widely used steel, medium carbon steel (En 8) using uncoated carbide inserts. Acoustic emission data and surface roughness data has been used in model development. The goal is for developing an optimal ANN model, in terms of compact architecture, least training time, and its ability to generalize well on unseen (test) data. Growing cell structures (GCS) network has been found to achieve these requirements.