Evaluating CNC Milling Performance for Machining AISI 316 Stainless Steel with Carbide Cutting Tool Insert

Area of Science:

• Manufacturing Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• AISI 316 stainless steel is a widely used material in demanding applications.
• Optimizing CNC milling processes is crucial for efficient material removal and surface finish.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the CNC milling performance of AISI 316 stainless steel using a carbide cutting tool.
• To determine the optimal machining parameters (cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut) for maximizing material removal rate (MRR) and minimizing surface roughness (SR).

Main Methods:

• Utilized a face-centered central composite design (FCCCD) based on response surface methodology (RSM).
• Employed multi-response optimization using the data envelopment analysis based ranking (DEAR) approach.
• Analyzed experimental results using analysis of variance (ANOVA), response graphs, and 3D surface plots.

Main Results:

• Identified optimal machining parameters: cutting speed (v) = 220 m/min, feed rate (f) = 0.20 mm/rev, and depth of cut (d) = 1.2 mm.
• Depth of cut (d) dominantly influenced material removal rate (MRR), followed by cutting speed (v).
• Feed rate (f) was the primary factor affecting surface roughness (SR), followed by depth of cut (d); cutting speed (v) had minimal impact on SR.

Conclusions:

• Successfully machined AISI 316 SS with a carbide tool, establishing optimal parameters for MRR and SR.
• The DEAR method effectively optimized multiple responses in the CNC milling process.
• Provides valuable insights for enhancing the efficiency and quality of AISI 316 SS machining.