Machinability Studies of AISI 304 Stainless Steel in CNC Turning Operation

Overview

This project focuses on optimizing the CNC turning process parameters for AISI 304 stainless steel using the Taguchi method. The study investigates the effects of various machining conditions (dry and wet) on surface roughness, cutting temperature, and tool wear.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Objectives
• Methodology
• Results
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgements
• References

Introduction

AISI 304 stainless steel is widely used in various applications due to its excellent corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. However, it poses challenges in machining due to its high toughness and work hardening characteristics. This project aims to optimize the machining parameters to improve surface quality and productivity during CNC turning operations.

Objectives

• To conduct turning experiments under dry and wet machining conditions.
• To analyze the influence of cutting parameters (cutting speed, feed rate, and depth of cut) on output parameters (surface roughness, cutting temperature, and tool wear).
• To optimize the cutting parameters for minimizing surface roughness, cutting temperature, and tool wear using the Taguchi method.
• To compare the performance of AISI 304 stainless steel under dry and wet cutting conditions.

Methodology

1. Material Selection: AISI 304 stainless steel was chosen for the study.
2. Machining Setup: CNC turning operations were performed using tungsten carbide cutting tools.
3. Experimental Design: The Taguchi method was employed to design experiments with varying levels of cutting speed, feed rate, and depth of cut.
4. Data Collection: Surface roughness, temperature, and tool wear were measured after each machining cycle.
5. Analysis: The results were analyzed using Mean and ANOVA to determine the influence of machining parameters.

Results

• The study revealed that cutting speed, feed rate, and depth of cut significantly affect the surface finish of AISI 304 stainless steel.
• Optimal conditions for dry turning were found to be lower depth of cut, medium higher feed rate, and lower cutting speed.
• In wet turning, the cutting speed was identified as the most influential variable on surface finish.

Tool Wear for DRY Condition

Tool Wear for WET Condition

Conclusion

The project successfully optimized the CNC turning parameters for AISI 304 stainless steel, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Taguchi method in improving machining performance. The findings provide valuable insights for manufacturing industries facing challenges in machining stainless steel components.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to:

• Dr. D. Philip Selvaraj, Project Guide
• Dr. L. Godson Asirvatham, Head of the Department
• My parents and friends for their support.

References

1. Davis JR (1995) ASM specialty handbook stainless steels. ASM International, Ohio.
2. Radhakrishnan P (2002) Manufacturing Technology, Scitech publications (India) Pvt. Ltd., Chennai.
3. Philip Selvaraj, D., & Richard Philip, P. (2021). Some studies on surface roughness of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel in dry turning operation. Trends in Mechanical and Biomedical Design, 869-877.

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For further details, please refer to the full project report.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.