Effect of process parameters on cut quality of stainless steel of plasma arc cutting using hybrid approach

Abstract

An optimization concept of the various machining parameters for the plasma arc cutting procedures on AISI 316 stainless steel conducting a hybrid optimization method has been carried out. A new composition of response surface methodology and grey relational analysis coupled with principal component analysis has been proposed to evaluate and estimate the effect of machining parameters on the responses. The major responses selected for these analyses are kerf, chamfer, dross, surface roughness and material removal rate, and the corresponding machining parameters concentrated for this study are feed rate, current, voltage and torch height. Thirty experiments were conducted on AISI 316 stainless steel workpiece materials based on a face-centered central composite design. The experimental results obtained are applied in grey relational analysis, and the weights of the responses were evaluated by the principal component analysis and further evaluated using response surface method. The results show that the grey relational grade was significantly affected by the machining parameters directly as well as with some interactions. This method is straightforward with easy operability, and the results have also been established by running confirmation tests. The premise attributes beneficial knowledge for managing the machining parameters to enhance the preciseness of machined parts by plasma arc cutting.