Multiple performance characteristics optimization in end milling of thin-walled parts using desirability function

Abstract

With the development of high-performance CNC machine tools, milling has been established as one of the main means of machining thin-walled parts. Thus, the selection of process parameters for milling operations is an important issue in end milling of thin-walled parts to assure product quality and increase productivity. The current study explores three machining parameters, namely wall thickness, feed, and machining strategies, that influence dimensional and form errors, surface roughness, and machining time milling of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy thin-walled parts. The effects of machining parameters on each of the response variables were analyzed using graphs of the main effects and three-dimensional surface plots. Analysis of the results show that the most influential factor for wall thickness deviation, dimensions deviation, perpendicularity deviation, flatness deviation, surface roughness of inner walls, surface roughness of outer walls, and surface roughness of reference plane was machining strategy, while feed is the most influential parameter affecting the machined time, followed by the machining strategy. The desirability concept has been used for simultaneous optimization in terms of machining parameters of the thin-walled parts machining process. Finally, a confirmation test with the optimal parameter settings was carried out to validate the results.