OPTIMISATION OF A NEEM OIL BASED MINIMUM QUANTITY LUBRICATING (MQL) SYSTEM PARAMETERS FOR THE ORTHOGONAL MACHINING OF MILD STEEL

Abstract

Cutting tools experience early failure and dimensional variation due to the high temperature developed

during machining. Conventional cutting fluid applications do not successfully remove heat because they do

not reach the chip-tool contact. Operators on the work floor may experience the adverse side effects of

cutting fluids, such as skin and respiratory issues. As a result, a different lubricating method is necessary

for machining without harming the tool-workpiece, which would also be advantageous for health and the

economy. This research aims to develop and evaluate the efficiency and optimization of minimal use of

Neem seed oils as lubrication for the Taguchi L9 array-based design for machining of mild steel. The

Taguchi optimization technique was used to examine the impact of the neem oil based Minimum quantity

lubrication (MQL) system (with flow rate, air pressure and nozzle diameter as factors) on the workpiece

temperature and chip thickness ratio at cutting speeds of 260 rpm and 470 rpm. The outcome demonstrated

that optimal settings at 260 rpm were a flow rate of 50 ml/hr, air pressure of 1.5 bars, and nozzle diameter

of 0.8 mm for workpiece temperature, and a flow rate of 100 ml/hr, air pressure of 1 bar, and nozzle

diameter of 0.8 mm for chip thickness ratio. At 470 rpm, optimal settings for workpiece temperature were

a flow rate of 50 ml/hr, air pressure of 1.5 bars, and nozzle diameter of 0.5 mm, while chip thickness ratio

optimization indicated a flow rate of 100 ml/hr, air pressure of 1 bar, and nozzle diameter of 0.5 mm.