Abstract: A method of detecting chatter in high-speed milling by means of measuring the noise from the cutting process is given. First the noise from the environment and then the cutting process are measured respectively. Theoretical analysis and testing results show that if the value of the dominant harmonic frequency of the noise from cutting process is close to that of one of the dominant harmonic frequencies of the noise from the environment, or is integer times that of the tooth passing fre-quency, no chatter occurs, otherwise there is chatter. The mathematical models for the system’s structure and milling process are established. Based on the chatter frequencies de-tected, the system’s natural frequencies, damping ratios, and process parameters can be worked out from the models. The stability lobes can thus be calculated. It is verified by tests that this method can well predict the stable cutting zones in high-speed milling.

Key words: Chatter, High-speed milling, Noise measurement, Stable cutting zones, Equivalent virtual material, Modeling, Transversely isotropic, Fixed joint interfaces