Improved Surface Integrity during End Milling AISI 316L Stainless Steel Using Heat Assisted Machining

Abstract

Different heat source had been investigated for thermally enhanced machining on various engineering materials. Even so, temperature control from the heat source remained a challenged to the process effectiveness.This study used oxyacetylene combustion flame as a heat source in heat assisted machining. The study focuses on the relationships between process conditions; maximum temperature distribution and the surface integrity of 316L stainless steel during preheat machining as compared to dry hard part machining. Two levels of cutting speed 1000rev/min, 630rev/min and feed rates 160mm/min and 100mm/min were investigated while the depth of cutting was maintained constant at 1mm. While preheat machining for 60seconds along the span of the work piece material at cutting speed 1000 rev/min and feedrate 100mm/rev, the average surface finish have improved by 94% over dry hard part machining. This corresponds to flank wear VB = 0.0644mm during heat assisted machining and 0.1425mm for dry hard part machining respectively. Such improvement was accompanied with longer tool life and secured surface integrity which improves the material’s life cycle.