Effect of MQL flow rate on machinability of AISI 4140 steel

Abstract

Many studies were performed about the influence of minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) technique on cutting performance in the literature, but there is no paper examining the effect of different MQL flow rates and cutting parameters on machinability of AISI 4140 material as a whole. In this study, the effects of different MQL flow rates and cutting parameters on surface roughness, main cutting force and cutting tool flank wear (VB), with great importance among the machinability criteria, and forming as a result of the machining of AISI 4140, were revealed. At the end of the experiments, it was determined that rise of flow rate affected main cutting forces positively to a certain extent; yet, it exhibited no significant effect on surface roughness, but reduced VB. Also, it was observed that both main cutting force and surface roughness increased with the increase of feed, while generally decreased with the increase of cutting speed. It was seen that flank wear was positively affected by the increase in flow rate; and this decreased with the increase in flow rate. R² values obtained as 99.8% and 99.9% for main cutting forces and surface roughness values modeled statistically with the help of quadratic equations, respectively.

Keywords:

• Cutting tool wear
• main cutting force
• minimum quantity lubrication
• surface roughness
• turning

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Batman University Scientific Research Projects Unit (BTUBAP), project no 2017-YUKSEKLISANS-2. So the authors would like to thank to BTUBAP for financial support.