Analysis of machining quality in edge trimming of carbon fiber reinforced composite

Abstract

Carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRP) have found extensive application in today’s industries such as aerospace, automotive and shipping industries for their high strength and light weight. But due to its inhomogeneous nature they encounter numerous machining problems. Service life of a component is highly dependent on the quality of machining. An experimental investigation is conducted to determine the effect of process parameters spindle speed and feed rate and tool condition on the surface quality of a machined CFRP composite material. Machining operation used is edge trimming. The aim of the experiment is to set optimum parameters for obtaining quality machined surfaces. Surface Quality was quantified based on delamination depth and surface roughness. It was found that delamination depth and surface roughness increase with an increase in feed rate and an increase in cutting distance and decrease with an increase in spindle speed. So the cutting conditions for best surface quality are high spindle speed and low feed rate and the cutting conditions for worst surface quality is low spindle speed and high feed rate. Results from this work were interpreted in the form of line graphs, 3D graphs and microscopic pictures for process optimization. Statistical analysis was done to validate the experimental results.