Investigate the Influence of Process Factors on the Surface Roughness of Stainless Steel

Abstract

 In this article, the effects of critical turning parameters—namely rotational speed, feed speed, and cutting depth—on surface roughness were comprehensively examined during longitudinal turning operations without the use of coolant. The investigation was conducted using a carbide cutting tool (Ken100-P30-2300K) on nine cylindrical specimens of Stainless Steel 316. The cutting depth was held constant at 0.5 mm, given its negligible influence on surface roughness. Rotational speeds were varied at 100, 500, and 1500 RPM, while feed speeds were adjusted to 0.15, 0.3, and 0.6 mm/rev, utilizing a conventional lathe machine. The analysis revealed a direct proportionality between feed speed and surface roughness, where an increase in feed speed corresponded to a rise in surface roughness. Conversely, an inverse relationship was established between rotational speed and surface roughness, indicating that higher rotational speeds generally resulted in reduced roughness. Notably, an anomalous increase in surface roughness was observed at a rotational speed of 500 RPM when the feed speed was maintained at 0.3 mm/rev. Beyond this point, the inverse trend resumed consistently across other feed speed settings. The optimal cutting conditions for minimizing surface roughness in Stainless Steel 316 were identified at a rotational speed of 1500 RPM and a feed speed of 0.15 mm/rev. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing machining parameters to achieve superior surface finish in turning operations.