The complex structure of turning aggravates obtaining the desired results in terms of tool wear and surface roughness. The existence of high temperature and pressure make difficult to reach and observe the cutting area. In-direct tool condition, monitoring systems provide tracking the condition of cutting tool via several released or converted energy types, namely, heat, acoustic emission, vibration, cutting forces and motor current. Tool wear inevitably progresses during metal cutting and has a relationship with these energy types. Indirect tool condition monitoring systems use sensors situated around the cutting area to state the wear condition of the cutting tool without intervention to cutting zone. In this study, sensors mostly used in indirect tool condition monitoring systems and their correlations between tool wear are reviewed to summarize the literature survey in this field for the last two decades. The reviews about tool condition monitoring systems in turning are very limited, and relationship between measured variables such as tool wear and vibration require a detailed analysis. In this work, the main aim is to discuss the effect of sensorial data on tool wear by considering previous published papers. As a computer aided electronic and mechanical support system, tool condition monitoring paves the way for machining industry and the future and development of Industry 4.0.

The manufacturing of parts from nickel-based superalloy, such as Inconel-800 alloy, represents a challenging task for industrial sites. Their performances can be enhanced by using a smart cutting fluid approach considered a sustainable alternative. Further, to innovate the cooling strategy, the researchers proposed an improved strategy based on the minimum quantity lubrication (MQL). It has an advantage over flood cooling because it allows better control of its parameters (i.e., compressed air, cutting fluid). In this study, the machinability of superalloy Inconel-800 has been investigated by performing different turning tests under MQL conditions, where no previous data are available. To reduce the numerous numbers of tests, a target objective was applied. This was used in combination with the response surface methodology (RSM) while assuming the cutting force input (F c), potential of tool wear (VB max), surface roughness (Ra), and the length of tool-chip contact (L) as responses. Thereafter, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) strategy was embedded to detect the significance of the proposed model and to understand the influence of each process parameter. To optimize other input parameters (i.e., cutting speed of machining, feed rate, and the side cutting edge angle (cutting tool angle)), two advanced optimization algorithms were introduced (i.e., particle swarm optimization (PSO) along with the teaching learning-based optimization (TLBO) approach). Both algorithms proved to be highly effective for predicting the machining responses, with the PSO being concluded as the best amongst the two. Also, a comparison amongst the cooling methods was made, and MQL was found to be a better cooling technique when compared to the dry and the flood cooling.

In this paper, the selected results of measurements and analysis of the active surfaces of a new generation of coated abrasive tools obtained by the use of focus-variation microscopy (FVM) are presented and discussed. The origin of this technique, as well as its general metrological characteristics is briefly described. Additionally, information regarding the focus variation microscope used in the experiments -InfiniteFocus ® IF G4 produced by Alicona Imaging, is also given. The measurements were carried out on microfinishing films (IMFF), abrasive portable belts with Cubitron™ II grains, and single-layer abrasive discs with Trizact™ grains. The obtained results were processed and analyzed employing TalyMap 4.0 software in the form of maps and profiles, surface microtopographies, AbbottFirestone curves, and calculated values of selected areal parameters. This allowed us to describe the active surfaces of the coated abrasive tools, as well as to assess the possibility of applying the FVM technique in such kinds of measurements.

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Despite several additive manufacturing techniques are commercially available in market, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is increasingly used by researchers and engineers for new product development. FDM is an established process with a plethora of advantages, but the visible surface roughness (SR), being an intrinsic limitation, is major barrier against utilization of fabricated parts for practical applications. In the present study, the chemical finishing method, using vapour of acetone mixed with heated air, is being used. The combined impact of orientation angle, finishing temperature and finishing time has been studied using Taguchi and ANOVA, whereas multi-criteria optimization is performed using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The surface finish was highly responsive to increase in temperature while orientation angle of 0° yielded maximum strength; increase in finishing time led to weight gain of FDM parts. As the temperature increases, the percentage change in surface roughness increases as higher temperature assists the melt down process. On the other hand, anisotropic behaviour plays a major role during tensile testing. The Signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio plots, and ANOVA results indicated that surface finish is directly proportionate to finishing time because a longer exposure results in complete layer reflowing and settlement.

The acceptance of the machined surfaces not only depends on roughness parameters but also in the flatness deviation (Δfl). Hence, before reaching the threshold of flatness deviation caused by the wear of the face mill, the tool inserts need to be changed to avoid the expected product rejection. As current CNC machines have the facility to track, in real-time, the main drive power, the present study utilizes this facility to predict the flatness deviation—with proper consideration to the amount of wear of cutting tool insert’s edge. The prediction of deviation from flatness is evaluated as a regression and a classification problem, while different machine-learning techniques like Multilayer Perceptrons, Radial Basis Functions Networks, Decision Trees and Random Forest ensembles have been examined. Finally, Random Forest ensembles combined with Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) balancing technique showed the highest performance when the flatness levels are discretized taking into account industrial requirements. The SMOTE balancing technique resulted in a very useful strategy to avoid the strong limitations that small experiment datasets produce in the accuracy of machine-learning models.

Diagnostics of abrasive tools requires the use of modern measurement techniques which allows for fast assessment of a surface in order to determine, for example, the degree of its wear or to detect various type of defects. A wide group of optical measurement methods used for this type of assessment are based on the phenomenon of light scattering. One such method based on imaging and analysis of light scattering from a surface is laser scatterometry. In this paper, by utilizing laser scatterometry supported by image analysis techniques, a proposal for a methodology of assessment of the degree to which smearing of the grinding wheel active surface (GWAS) occurs during the plunge grinding process, was presented and discussed. Select results of experimental investigations carried out on bearing steel 100Cr6 were also presented. The obtained results confirmed the efficacy of the above-mentioned techniques that could be an interesting alternative to other methods already used in such measurements.