Determination of Machinability Properties of Nimonic-60 Superalloy Under Sustainable Conditions

Abstract

Sustainable machining is an approach that aims to minimize environmental impacts and optimize resource use in industrial production processes. The basis of this approach lies in reducing the environmental and economic impacts associated with the use of machining methods. Machining is a widely used method for shaping metal parts, and this process is often energy-intensive and wasteful. Sustainable machining involves various strategies. These include methods such as the use of renewable energy resources, increasing energy and material efficiency, improving recycling and waste management, and selecting materials to reduce cutting fluids and environmental impacts in production processes. In this study, the machinability properties of Nimonic-60 superalloy, which is an important material in the field of industry, were examined. In order to conduct machinability trials, three different cutting speeds (Vc, 40-50-60 m/min), three different feed rates per tooth (fn, 0.050-0.075-0.100 mm/rev), and three different cooling/lubrication conditions (dry-air-MQL) were used. The trials were conducted using a computer-controlled three-axis milling machine. Additionally, Taguchi analysis was performed to reduce the number of experiments and costs. Consequently, it was concluded that the most optimal choice for surface roughness, flank wear, and cutting temperature was the Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) environment. Minimum surface roughness, tool wear and cutting temperature in the MQL environment were measured as 0.499µm, 0.201mm and 66.4 C˚ respectively. The Taguchi study findings revealed that cooling/lubrication had the most impact on surface roughness (56.66%), flank wear (87.96%), and cutting temperature (78.68%).