Random or intuitive nozzle position in high-speed milling using minimum quantity lubricant

Abstract

High-speed machining, the need to reduce environmental impact and manufacturing cycle time have promoted the use of minimum quantity lubricant in mechanical machining. However, in minimum quantity lubricant, where a small quantity of cooling lubricant is delivered to the cutting zone, the sensitivity of machining performance to nozzle position has hardly been explored in research or noted in industrial practice. In this study of conventional versus high-speed machining, the focus was on a systematic study of the effect of nozzle position on tool wear. This study elucidates the effect of spindle rotation speed on the sensitivity of nozzle location in order to enhance machining performance. This work provides some fundamental information regarding the position and orientation of the nozzle in order to maximise the benefits of machining using minimum quantity lubricants. This work is of significant importance for the repeatability of minimum quantity lubricant machining operations and to promote longer tool life in particular for machine shops where nozzles are currently randomly oriented to the cutting zone.