Title: Machining with minimum quantity lubrication: a step towards green manufacturing

Authors: Vikas Upadhyay; P.K. Jain; N.K. Mehta

Addresses: Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India ' Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India ' Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India

Abstract: Increased cost associated with the use of coolant in machining operations, increased environmental awareness, and strict protection laws and health regulations for occupational safety demanded elimination/reduction of cutting fluids in metal cutting operations. Minimum quantity lubrication (MQL)/near dry machining (NDM), which relies on total use without residue has been gaining popularity as a new alternative for flood cooling. The quantity of cutting fluid in MQL is in ml/hr instead of in l/min as in flood cooling. The paper begins with an overview regarding the problems associated with the use of conventional flood cooling method leading to the need of MQL, and subsequently discusses the components and working principle of MQL system. The literature related to turning and milling operations has been reviewed and presented in two major headings: effect of operating parameters on MQL performance and effect of MQL on machinability to provide a clear and complete understanding of the system.

Keywords: green manufacturing; minimum quantity lubrication; MQL; near dry machining; NDM; turning; milling; cutting fluids; flood cooling; coolants; machinability; environmental manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMM.2013.054277

International Journal of Machining and Machinability of Materials, 2013 Vol.13 No.4, pp.349 - 371

Received: 10 Nov 2011
Accepted: 04 Oct 2012
Published online: 26 Dec 2013 *

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