Title: Optimisation of drilling process parameters of aluminium matrix composites (LM5/ZrO₂)

Authors: S. Jebarose Juliyana; J. Udaya Prakash

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D, Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D, Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: Ceramics are incorporated into metal in the metal matrix composites (MMCs), which are tough to machine because of its abrasive quality. It is important to establish an effective technology for the efficacious machining of MMCs because of its future widespread use. The drilling of LM5/ZrO₂ composites employs Taguchi technique to find the optimum machining parameters to minimise surface roughness. The stir casting process is used to make a novel composite prepared by combining LM5 aluminium alloy with Zirconia with three distinct weight percentages (3, 6 and 9). In the produced composites, the effect of input parameters such as spindle speed, feed rate, drill material and reinforcement percentage on surface roughness was studied using L₂₇ orthogonal array by conducting drilling operation in CNC machine. The research work was performed using the Taguchi's signal-to-noise ratio approach. Response graphs were used to evaluate parametric effects. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was accompanied to find the related variables and assess their influence on the individualities of the response. Feed rate and Spindle speed are the most influential input parameters to achieve minimal surface roughness.

Keywords: drilling; composites; ANOVA; stir casting; Zirconia; Taguchi technique.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENM.2023.130772

International Journal of Enterprise Network Management, 2023 Vol.14 No.1/2, pp.193 - 204

Received: 03 Aug 2021
Accepted: 14 Sep 2021
Published online: 06 May 2023 *