Hard Turning Performance Investigation of AISI D2 Steel under a Dual Nozzle MQL Environment

Abstract

In recent years, hard turning has emerged as a burgeoning cutting technology for producing high-quality finishing of cylindrical-shaped hardened steel for a variety of industrial applications. Hard turning under dry cutting was not accepted because of the generation of higher cutting temperatures which accelerated tool wear and produced an inferior surface finish. Nowadays, minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) is widely accepted in hard turning to reduce the problems encountered in dry cutting. This research aimed to augment the MQL performance in the hard turning process of AISI D2 steel by applying a novel concept, namely, a dual jet nozzle MQL system that supplies the cutting fluid into the cutting zone from two different directions. The performances of hard turning are discussed using machinability indicator parameters, such as surface roughness, tool wear, cutting temperature, power consumption, noise emission, and chip morphology. The dual nozzle MQL greatly reduced the friction between contact surfaces in the cutting zone and provided improved surface quality (Ra = 0.448 to 1.265 µm). Furthermore, tool flank wear was found to be lower, in the range of 0.041 to 0.112 mm, with abrasion and adhesion being observed to be the main mode of wear mechanisms. The power consumption was greatly influenced by the depth of cut (46.69%), followed by cutting speed (40.76%) and feed (9.70%). The chip shapes were found to be helical, ribbon, and spiral c type, while the colors were a metallic, light blue, deep blue, and light golden.