Optimization of Minimum Quantity Lubrication Parameters

Abstract

Cutting fluids are inevitable in manufacturing industries due to their cooling and lubricating properties. But their applications in large quantities pose serious threat to biological bodies in the oceans and rivers when disposed untreated. Strict rules and fines imposed by most of the countries on such industries created an economic and environmental concern. This led to research in finding alternative methods to either eliminate or reduce the usage of cutting fluids. Minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) is one of such methods being widely tested to replace flood machining. Application of cutting fluid as MQL requires decision of choosing the optimum MQL parameters, i.e., air pressure, cross-sectional area of nozzle and coolant flow rate. The present paper deals with optimizing these MQL system parameters in order to minimize cutting forces and surface roughness using conventional soluble oil as coolant. Coolant flow rate and quantity of air supplied were found to contribute the most to cutting forces and surface roughness, respectively.