Tool wear and cost evaluation of face milling grade 5 titanium alloy for sustainable machining

Cutting tool life, its wear rate and machining cost play significant role in a machining process. Effect of these parameters using face milling of titanium alloy is analysed to assess the economic factor of sustainability. Machining sustainability of Ti-6Al-4V hardened to 55 HRC is assessed through a novel technique of iso-response method, in which the response value, i.e. surface finish is taken as criteria for evaluation and comparison among dry, conventional and cryogenic machining. Experiments are designed in DOE for central composite design and performed face milling of Ti-6Al-4V with PVD coated carbide inserts using three conditions of cooling and measured the response values. Feed, speed, and depth of cut were used as input variables. Comparing the average results of tool life and machining cost for iso-response technique, it was found that 47.55 % less electricity cost and 47.59 % less machine operating cost and 10.76 times increased cutting tool life achieved for cryogenically cooled experiments as compared with dry machining. Coolant cost was found 13.33 times cheaper for cryogenic as compared with conventional machining. The results indicate that cryogenic cooling is more sustainable for tool life, having better surface finish of machined part with least energy and machining cost. (C) 2016 PEI, University of Maribor. All rights reserved.