Effects of process parameters on machining forces and surface roughness during turning 304L steel using SiO2 nanofluid

Abstract

The use of cutting fluids in machining processes plays an important role in minimizing cutting temperature, cutting forces, and machining cost In this paper, a study has been performed to model and optimize the process parameters involved in the turning operation of alloy steel AISI-304L (4306) with SiO2 nanofluids using the minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) method. The effects of spindle speed, feed rate, and flow rate in three levels have been investigated on the surface roughness and the machining forces using the response surface method (RSM). The results show the feed rate has the most effect on output responses. The minimum level of the feed rate and the maximum level of the flow rate and the spindle speed results in the optimum value for the surface roughness and machining forces. Also, a comparison between lubricating with and without nanoparticles show addition of nanoparticles improves the cutting forces and surface roughness due to the increase of the thermal conductivity coefficient of cutting fluids. The use of SiO2 nanoparticles in cutting fluid decreases the surface roughness by 48.5% and the cutting force by 12.3% compared to pure cutting fluid in the same condition.