End milling of AISI 304 steel using Minimum Quantity Lubrication

Abstract

Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) is currently recognized a substitute to Flood lubrication method. This work aimed on use of vegetable oil as cutting fluid under MQL. Experimental work was performed on AISI 304 steel using Taguchi’s L18 orthogonal array. Cutting speed, Environment and Feed were selected as the input variables. The responses observed are surface roughness, tool wear and chip morphology. The optimization of multi criteria decision making is attained using TOPSIS technique. The importance of the work is focusing in selecting olive oil for machining. The deep and stretched particles of the olive oil give a greater capability to take up stress and provide dense lubrication. The experimental results were analysed by means of ANOVA. Finally, a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is used to observe the tool wear and chip morphology and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to examine the 3-Dimensional profile of the surfaces generated.