Investigation on the tool worn surface morphology and machining characteristics of the Hardox steel using minimum quantity lubrication

Abstract

In recent years, minimum quantity lubrication machining has played a critical role in extending tool life, improving surface finish, and reducing tool wear during the machining of hardened steel. The reported investigation involved the utility of Hardox 500 steel for the machining process while the cubic boron nitride coated tool performed the function of removing the material. The investigation was carried out by adopting two different techniques to predict the responses, viz., the response surface methodology and the artificial neural network. These techniques have been employed to predict the possible responses in investigating machining characteristics. Also, due consideration has been made concerning the reduction of tool-tip temperature and surface roughness. The entire investigation was carried out using three different environments. They are dry machining, wet, and minimum quantity lubrication. A scanning electron microscope was used for examining the morphology of the worn tool surface.

Energy Efficiency in CO2 Laser Processing of Hardox 400 Material

“…The use of classical technologies for machining Hardox 400 steel results in rapid tool wear and average roughness of the surfaces obtained [10,11]. Hardox 400 steel processing is difficult due to the thermal conductivity, reflectivity and viscosity of the molten material [12,13].…”

“…The regression equations are presented in relations ( 11) and ( 12), respectively: E l = 167.18 -0.09•V + 0.03•P. (10) It turns out that the most important factor that determines linear energy is the cutting speed because it has a correlation coefficient of 0.09, higher than that of the power of 0.03. The maximum values of the cutting efficiency are obtained at maximum speed with minimum laser power.…”

Simulation of Melting Efficiency in Laser Cutting of Hardox 400 Steel

“…Mechanical and thermal characteristics have led to the use of steel in the industries listed above, in the case of applications that require resistance to abrasion with impact and good cold bending properties [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. The cutting of Hardox 400 steel using conventional technologies leads to high wear of the cutting tools under conditions of average roughness values of the cut surfaces [ 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”

“…As it exhibits high thermal conductivity, high melt viscosity, and high absorptivity, laser cutting is an alternative process that can ensure efficient steel processing. Such properties constitute an additional argument to choose the material as an object of research [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”