Optimizing The Machining Parameters For Minimum Surface Roughness In Turning Al/6% SiC/6%RHA Hybrid Composites

This paper discusses the use of the Taguchi experimental design technique to find the optimal parameters while machining Al/6% SiCp/6%RHAp metal matrix hybrid composites. The hybrid composites were fabricated using the stir casting technique. The objective of this work is to investigate the effect of the controllable variables like spindle speed, feed and depth of cut on surface roughness while turning the hybrid composite. Taguchi's L9, orthogonal arrays under different combinations are used for experimentation. The influence of the parameters is also evaluated using signal to noise (S/N) ratio analysis. Optimum parameters which give minimum surface roughness are obtained. S/N plot is drawn and the results are validated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the percentage of contribution of each parameter is determined. The scanning electron microscope was used to investigate the worn machined surface of the hybrid composites and the related mechanisms are explained and presented. The 3D surface topography parameter (roughness, skewness, Kurtosis) is also analyzed to predict the worn machined surface of hybrid composites using SPIP software.