Dry Machining of AISI 316 Steel Using Textured Ceramic Tool Inserts: Investigation of Surface Roughness and Chip Morphology

Abstract

Stainless steel is recognized for its excellent durability and anti-corrosion properties, which are essential qualities across various industrial applications. The machining of stainless steel, particularly under a dry environment to attain sustainability, poses several challenges. The poor heat conductivity and high ductility of stainless steel results in poor heat distribution, accelerating tool wear and problematic chip formation. To mitigate these challenges, the implementation of surface texturing has been identified as a beneficial strategy. This study investigates the impact of wave-type texturing patterns, developed on the flank surface of tungsten carbide ceramic tool inserts, on the machinability of AISI 316 stainless steel under dry cutting conditions. In this investigation, chip morphology and surface roughness were used as key indicators of machinability. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was conducted for chip thickness, chip thickness ratio, and surface roughness, while Taguchi mono-objective optimization was applied to chip thickness. The ANOVA results showed that linear models accounted for 71.92%, 83.13%, and 82.86% of the variability in chip thickness, chip thickness ratio, and surface roughness, respectively, indicating a strong fit to the experimental data. Microscopic analysis confirmed a substantial reduction in chip thickness, with a minimum observed value of 457.64 µm. The corresponding average surface roughness Ra value 1.645 µm represented the best finish across all experimental runs, highlighting the relationship between thinner chips and enhanced surface quality. In conclusion, wave textures on the cutting tool’s flank face have the potential to facilitate the dry machining of AISI 316 stainless steel to obtain favorable machinability.