Title: A review of near dry machining/minimum quantity lubrication machining of difficult to machine alloys

Authors: Talwinder Singh; Pragat Singh; J.S. Dureja; Manu Dogra; Harwinder Singh; Manpreet S. Bhatti

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002, Punjab, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002, Punjab, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002, Punjab, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Swami Sarvanand Giri Panjab University Regional Centre, Hoshiarpur-146110, Punjab, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana-141006, Punjab, India ' Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India

Abstract: Cutting fluids cool and lubricate the cutting tool and machined area, wash away chips thereby increasing material removal rate, lengthen tool life and improve dimensional accuracy. However, strict environmental regulations prohibit liberal use of conventional coolants due to environment, health hazards and economic reasons. But, dry cutting although environmental friendly is not feasible under all machining applications. Some materials, when machined dry, tend to stick to tool face, spoiling tool and machined surface finish, can be efficiently machined under near dry machining (NDM) or under minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) conditions; in which cooling and lubrication in the cutting zone can be achieved by a tiny amount of cutting oil applied to tool tip with compressed air in mist form, thereby addressing the negative impact of flooded coolant machining. This paper, attempts to critically review research progress and current state of affairs in machining of difficult to machine alloys under NDM/MQL.

Keywords: metalworking fluids; MWFs; near dry machining; NDM; minimum quantity lubrication; MQL; dry machining; flooded cooling; flooded lubrication; difficult to machine alloys; cleaner production; aerosols; positive rake tools; chip breaker; Inconel; stainless steel; literature review; difficult to machine materials.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMM.2016.076276

International Journal of Machining and Machinability of Materials, 2016 Vol.18 No.3, pp.213 - 251

Received: 12 Jan 2015
Accepted: 03 Oct 2015
Published online: 30 Apr 2016 *

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