Experimental Investigations on Machinability Measures of LM6

Abstract

Aluminium alloy LM6 is used for manufacturing of components in automobile and marine applications. However, LM6 alloying elements pose challenges to manufacturing industry because they cause difficulty while machining, and rapid tool wear occurs due to the presence of high silicon content. Moreover LM6 strength falls down rapidly at elevated temperatures. In view of the above fact, engineers have focused their research on LM6 by adding suitable reinforcement particulates to develop metal matrix composites with LM6 as matrix. This research work discusses the method of optimising the technological data like machining-velocity, feed per revolution, machining-depth and insert nose radius in order to achieve better surface for LM6. It also investigates the influence of machining variables on surface roughness and the machinability measures such as resultant force, specific cutting pressure and co-efficient of friction between work-piece and tool. The study reveals that 0.8 mm nose radius insert gives better result and moreover interactions of feed per revolution and machining-depth have a noteworthy influence on surface finish. The optimal turning process variables are in close conformity with experimental results. The machinability measure analyses are useful in the prediction of machining performance as it more sensitive in reflecting the machining performance.