STUDY ON INFLUENCE OF MACHINABILITY CHARACTERISTICS IN MACHINING OF NIMONIC 90A ALLOY USING COPPER OXIDE NANOFLUID IN MQL MODE

Nickel Copper Super alloys are extensively used in aerospace industries for a variety of applications. Due to their unique material properties, machining Ni-Cu alloys are associated with small tool life, inferior surface quality and less productivity. This paper presents one of the first studies on using Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) as a cooling method in CNC machining of these alloys. This paper delves deep into study of machinability parameters in quality characteristics of force (Fz) along with roughness (Ra) in wet machining of Nimonic 90A alloy. Here Copper Oxide (CuO) nano particles were` mixed with Ground nut oil through ultrasonication to make nanofluids (NF) of several concentrations. This NF is employed using MQL mode in machining of Nimonic 90A alloy. Machinability experiments are done using inserts having code KC5525 (according to ISO) for wet turning at three speeds (40 m/min, 60 m/min and 100 m/min), three feeds (0.14 mm/rev, 0.17 mm/rev and 0.2 mm/rev) and at three concentrations (0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%) with constant depth of cut of 0.5 mm for three different nanofluids. Trials are based on Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array. The set of optimal parameters of machinability parameters in quality characteristics is found by employing ‘smaller-the better” characteristics in Taguchi analysis. Results are found through statistical analysis. Through such extensive analysis, parametric investigation of influence of machinability parameters on output responses as well as optimal data set of machining conditions of speed, feed and concentration for desired values of output responses like cutting force, surface roughness, are determined. From the optimization plots, as far as CuO is concerned, most optimal values of responses can be obtained at conditions of speed: 40 m/min, feed: 0.14 rev/min and Concentration: 0.25.