Regular Article

Comparison on various machinability aspects between mixed and reinforced ceramics when machining hardened steels

¹ Mechanics and Structures Laboratory (LMS), 8 May University of Guelma, BP. 401, 24000 Guelma, Algeria
² National High School of Technology (ENST), Dergana, Algiers, Algeria
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Technology Sciences, University of Mentouri Brothers Constantine, P.O. Box 325, Ain-El-Bey Way, Constantine 25017, Algeria
⁴ Advanced Technologies in Mechanical Production Research Laboratory (LRTAPM), Badji Mokhtar University of Annaba, Annaba, Algeria

^* e-mail: hamdi.aouici@enst.dz

Received: 8 March 2015
Accepted: 28 December 2018

Abstract

The hard turning process has an attracting interest in different industrial sectors for finishing operations of hard materials. However, it still presents disadvantages with respect to process capability and reliability. This paper describes a comparison of surface roughness, specific cutting force and flank wear between mixed ceramic CC650 (Al₂O₃ (70%) + TiC (30%)) and reinforced ceramic CC670 (Al₂O₃ (75%) + SiC (25%)) cutting tools when machining in dry hard turning of AISI 4140, treated at 52 HRC using the response surface methodology (RSM). A mathematical prediction model of the machining responses has been developed in terms of cutting speed, feed rate and cutting time parameters. Experimental observations show that the surface roughness obtained with the mixed ceramic insert significantly improved when compared with reinforced ceramic insert with a ratio of 1.44. In the same way, insert CC650 has better performance compared to reinforced ceramic inserts CC670, in terms of the specific cutting force and flank wear.