Biomimetic integration of MQL and tool surface microstructure in intermittent machining

Abstract

Vegetable oil–based nanofluid minimum quantity lubrication (VNMQL) and tool surface microstructure can be employed to efficiently improve the cutting process in an environmentally friendly way. Biomimetics-based integration of VNMQL and tool surface microstructure is expected to have beneficial effects on the friction coefficient, the cutting force, the tool temperature, the tool wear, and the surface roughness in intermittent turning process. VNMQL was integrated with tool surface microstructure on the basis of the analysis results of Odontodactylus scyllarus. For the purpose of obtaining better machining results, different combinations of the element area A and the laser angle θ were adopted for the tool surface microstructure to match VNMQL. Biomimetics-based integration of VNMQL and tool surface microstructure led to even lower values of the quantities such as the friction coefficient, the cutting force, the tool temperature, the tool wear, and the surface roughness compared with dry condition and VNMQL condition. The smallest values of these quantities were acquired at the same optimum combination of the microstructure element area A and the laser angle θ. The optimum combination can be described as follows: A was 2.4 × 10−8 m2 and θ was 75°. There existed close relationship among the cutting force, the tool temperature, the tool wear, and the surface roughness. Cutting force was found to be more suitable for pre-evaluating tool wear and surface roughness compared with tool temperature.