Title: Thrust force evaluation in drilling medium density fibre (MDF) panels using design of experiments

Authors: S. Prakash; K. Palanikumar; A. Krishnamoorthy

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Sathyabama University, Chennai, 600 119, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Sai Ram Institute of Technology, Sai Leo Nagar, West Tambaram, Chennai 600 044, India. ' Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Sathyabama University, Chennai, 600 119, India

Abstract: Medium density fibre (MDF) panels find increased applications in wood industries. Drilling is frequently used machining process to join these materials. Surface quality and dimensional accuracy play an important role in the performance of joints. To make an effective use of MDF panels, it is essential to produce high quality holes. The objective of this study is to optimise the parameters such as thickness of panel, spindle speed, feed rate and drill size to get the optimum thrust force, so as to get good quality of holes during drilling MDF using design of experiments. The thrust force is measured by using drilling dynamometer. Response surface model is developed to predict the thrust force for drilling of MDF panels within the range of variables considered. From the response surface analysis, it is found that the drill sizes are very sensitive over the range of speed. Taguchi method and analysis of variance are employed to study the thrust force in drilling of MDF panels using (K20) carbide tools are presented in this study.

Keywords: medium density fibre; MDF panels; hole drilling; Taguchi methods; analysis of variance; ANOVA; design of experiments; DOE; thrust force evaluation; wood industry; surface quality; dimensional accuracy; joint performance; joints; high quality holes; panel thickness; spindle speed; feed rate; drill size; response surface methodology; RSM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2012.047723

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2012 Vol.25 No.1/2/3, pp.95 - 112

Published online: 26 Nov 2014 *

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