Title: Optimisation of cutting parameters using Taguchi design of experiment for titanium alloy (grade-5) on CNC turning centre

Authors: Sunil Thakur; S.R. Chauhan

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, H.P. 177005, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur HP, 177005, India

Abstract: Titanium alloy (grade-5) is one of the materials extensively used in the aerospace industry due to its excellent properties such as high specific strength and corrosion resistance. It also presents problems as it is extremely difficult material to machine. The cost associated with titanium machining is also high due to lower cutting speeds, feed, and depth of cut. In this study, the Taguchi method is used for design of experiment and analysis to find the optimal cutting parameters. An orthogonal array, L₂₇ (3¹³) is used for design of experiment and to investigate the cutting characteristics of titanium alloy (grade-5) using CBN cutting tool with nose radius (0.8 mm). Four cutting parameters namely cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut and approach angle are optimised with considerations of surface roughness, cutting force and specific cutting pressure as machining criteria. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been used to find the significant parameters and interactions of these factors. From the results it is observed that the approach angle and feed rate has considerable influence on the machinability of titanium alloys.

Keywords: machinability; orthogonal arrays; Taguchi methods; specific cutting pressure; optimisation; cutting parameters; design of experiments; DOE; titanium alloys; CNC turning; aerospace industry; cutting speed; feed rate; depth of cut; approach angle.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMM.2012.050436

International Journal of Machining and Machinability of Materials, 2012 Vol.12 No.4, pp.398 - 416

Received: 16 Mar 2011
Accepted: 22 Jul 2011
Published online: 23 Aug 2014 *

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