The aim of this study is to investigate the dynamic phenomenon of ultrasonic vibration-assisted cutting by utilizing a stress distribution visualization system. The vibrating cutting-edge is considered to be a cause of dynamic changes in the cutting force at ultrasonic frequencies. However, many researchers have explained the effect of ultrasonic vibration-assisted cutting by evaluating the time-averaged cutting force, because existing dynamometers are unable to measure the dynamically changing cutting force at ultrasonic frequencies. There are some reports that the vibration direction of cutting edge strongly affects tool wear. However, in practical ultrasonic cutting, the vibration of the cutting edge has yet to be measured in a production environment. In this study, the instantaneous stress distribution on the workpiece was visualized by a photoelastic method that combines a pulsed laser emission synchronized with tool vibration. The developed photographic system can capture 360 frames in one ultrasonic vibration period. The dynamic cutting force was calculated by Flamant’s stress distribution theory. It was experimentally confirmed that the stress distribution under vibration-assisted conditions showed periodical changes synchronized with vibration. Because these results are compatible with well-known vibration-cutting theories, the imaging system was able to show the periodic changes in stress distribution in the ultrasonic frequency band. This indicates that the dynamic change in cutting force during the ultrasonic vibration period affects intermittent cutting conditions. In this report, the vibration direction was adjusted from −9.5° to +9.5° along the cutting direction. When the tool moved in upwards for the cutting phase and downwards for withdrawal phase, the stress distribution was continuously observed over one tool vibration period; no intermittent cutting was observed. The locus of the cutting force vector was affected by the ultrasonic vibration direction and rake angle of the cutting tool. A negative rake angle showed that the direction of the cutting force vector shifted toward the workpiece side near the most advanced position of the cutting edge.

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