Analysis of tool wear and surface roughness in high-speed milling process of aluminum alloy Al6061

Abstract

In this study, the influence of cutting parameters and machining time on the tool wear and surface roughness was investigated in high-speed milling process of Al6061 using face carbide inserts. Taguchi experimental matrix (L9) was chosen to design and conduct the experimental research with three input parameters (feed rate, cutting speed, and axial depth of cut). Tool wear (VB) and surface roughness (Ra) after different machining strokes (after 10, 30, and 50 machining strokes) were selected as the output parameters. In almost cases of high-speed face milling process, the most significant factor that influenced on the tool wear was cutting speed (84.94 % after 10 machining strokes, 52.13 % after 30 machining strokes, and 68.58 % after 50 machining strokes), and the most significant factors that influenced on the surface roughness were depth of cut and feed rate (70.54 % after 10 machining strokes, 43.28 % after 30 machining strokes, and 30.97 % after 50 machining strokes for depth of cut. And 22.01 % after 10 machining strokes, 44.39 % after 30 machining strokes, and 66.58 % after 50 machining strokes for feed rate). Linear regression was the most suitable regression of VB and Ra with the determination coefficients (R2) from 88.00 % to 91.99 % for VB, and from 90.24 % to 96.84 % for Ra. These regression models were successfully verified by comparison between predicted and measured results of VB and Ra. Besides, the relationship of VB, Ra, and different machining strokes was also investigated and evaluated. Tool wear, surface roughness models, and their relationship that were found in this study can be used to improve the surface quality and reduce the tool wear in the high-speed face milling of aluminum alloy Al6061