Optimum surface roughness in end milling Inconel 718 by coupling neural network model and genetic algorithm

In this study, optimum cutting parameters of Inconel 718 are determined to enable minimum surface roughness under the constraints of roughness and material removal rate. In doing this, advantages of statistical experimental design technique, experimental measurements, artificial neural network and genetic optimization method are exploited in an integrated manner. Cutting experiments are designed based on statistical three-level full factorial experimental design technique. A predictive model for surface roughness is created using a feed forward artificial neural network exploiting experimental data. Neural network model and analytical definition of material removal rate are employed in the construction of optimization problem. The optimization problem was solved by an effective genetic algorithm for variety of constraint limits. Additional experiments have been conducted to compare optimum values and their corresponding roughness and material removal rate values predicted from the genetic algorithm. Generally a good correlation is observed between the predicted optimum and the experimental measurements. The neural network model coupled with genetic algorithm can be effectively utilized to find the best or optimum cutting parameter values for a specific cutting condition in end milling Inconel 718.