4. Conclusion and outlook

Modeling chip formation is a difficult art, in which basic physical phenomena are gradually being integrated to improve the quality of the models. When only limited computational resources are available, Lee and Shaffer's model can be used for a first order of magnitude, when measurements allow a suitable choice of flow stress and friction conditions. A thermomechanical model is more satisfactory, provided that the rheological behavior of the material being machined is known precisely. Over the last ten years or so, we have developed software for calculating large-scale deformations, which has demonstrated its ability to handle machining. Numerical simulation is gradually making it possible to describe cutting operations in an increasingly realistic way, taking into account cutting edge geometry (roundness, clearance angle), differences in the rheology and physical properties of the materials...