Performance evaluation of surface texturing on carbide tool under minimum quantity lubrication turning of aluminium alloy Al6061 using canola oil

Abstract

Turning operation is considered an important material removal process and its performance depends largely on the machining parameters. This study presents the analysis of the effect of surface texturing on tool during MQL turning of Aluminium alloy Al6061 using canola oil. Minimum quantity lubrication possesses the benefits of flood lubrication as well as dry machining. Canola oil used in this study possesses good lubrication properties and its kinematic viscosity is 41 mm2/s at 40 °C. Tool texturing is in growing trend in the manufacturing industry and it has gained the attention of many researchers in the past few years. In this study parallel textured pattern is used in which the grooves are perpendicular to chip flow direction. Average surface roughness (Ra) and tangential cutting forces (Ft) are the responses measured. Chip patterns are also examined under different conditions. It is concluded that high spindle speed of 160 m/min along with low feeding rate of 0.2 mm/rev with MQL system using textured tool generates better results for tangential cutting force as well as average surface roughness in contrast with other machining conditions.