Beneficial effects of cryogenic cooling over dry and wet machining on tool wear and surface finish in turning AISI 1060 steel

High production machining of steel inherently generate high cutting temperature, which not only reduces tool life but also impairs the product quality. Conventional cutting fluids are ineffective in controlling the high cutting temperature and rapid tool wear, Further, they also deteriorate the working environment and lead to general environmental pollution. Attempts have already been initiated to control the pollution problem by cryogenic cooling which helps also in getting rid of recycling and disposal of conventional fluids. The present work deals with experimental investigation in the role of cryogenic cooling by liquid nitrogen jet on tool wear and surface finish in plain turning of AISI 1060 steel at industrial speed-feed combination by two types of carbide inserts of different geometric configurations. The results have been compared with dry machining and machining with soluble oil as coolant. The results of the present work indicate substantial benefit of cryogenic cooling on tool life and surface finish. This may be attributed to mainly reduction in cutting zone temperature and favorable change in the chip-tool interaction. Further, it was evident that machining with soluble oil cooling failed to provide any significant improvement in tool life, rather surface finish deteriorated. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.