Application of bivariate parameter design to the optimization of the operating conditions of a turning process

Abstract

Parameter design, introduced by Taguchi, has been shown to be an effective approach for improving quality and productivity at low cost. The present article reports a case study of the application of parameter design to the determination of the optimal operating conditions of an integrated numerical control (NC) lathe such that the roundness and surface roughness of the cylindrical workpieces, which are processed on the NC lathe, can be improved. An orthogonal array, signal-to-noise ratio and analysis of variance are employed to carry out the bivariate parameter design and its corresponding data analysis. Through this study, not only can the optimal operating conditions for the integrated NC lathe be obtained, but also significant parameters that affect the roundness and surface roughness of the workpieces can be determined. Experimental results are provided to confirm the effectiveness of this approach.