Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Cutting Conditions on Tool Wear During Turning of 316L Stainless Steel

Abstract

In machining processes, the cutting tool is the most important part of the operation. There is a great need to discuss how to improve the contact conditions around the cutting tool to extend its life, and this improvement can’t be achieved unless there is a good understanding and knowledge of the contact conditions that occur at the tool's cutting edge. The main objective of this work is to add more knowledge for investigating the tool-chip interface during the metal-cutting process and tool wear. This work will look at the chip-tool interface; and examine how tool wear can be evaluated. These aims will be achieved by carrying out practical experimental work during the turning of 316L stainless steel by tungsten carbide cutting inserts at different conditions. The relationship between tool wear and experimental conditions (time, speed, feed, and depth of cut) was adapted into a polynomial response equation of second order for the response. The results are tested statistically using the ANOVA technique. The F-ratio test as a tool of the analysis of variance was used to check the adequacy of the model and to determine whether the final equation is a good fit to the experimental observations. Hence, the regression equation that has been derived is in agreement with the experimental results observed. Based on the work in this study, a couple of points can be concluded: tool wear is influenced by the change in cutting conditions, and low rates of tool wear are recorded at low speeds, low feeds, and short periods.