Performance assessment of the multi-nozzle injection MQL system for cleaner machining of hardened AISI D2 steel concerning power consumption

Sustainable hard machining is a pressing need in manufacturing industries for techno-social, economic and environmental benefits to machine difficult-to-cut materials. Thus the present study investigates finish turning of hardened AISI D2 steel using a MTCVD coated carbide insert (TiN-TiCN-Al2O3) with geometry CNMG120408FW and grade WK05CT under a multi-nozzle MQL system using LRT 30 mineral oil (50 ml/hr flow rate, 6 bar compressed air pressure, 30 mm nozzle distance from tool tip) for minimal quantity lubrication at both the rake and flank zones for assessment of machinability. Flank wear lies between 0.79 and 0.155 mm and within the failure criterion limit of 0.2 mm. Arithmetic surface roughness trials have been within 0.361–0.877 microns and within the 1.6 microns acceptable range. The cutting temperature has been between 80.7°C and 226.9°C and even below 200°C in the majority of runs. The cutting power lies within 0.432kW–0.804kW. The optimal parametric combination has been found to be d=0.1 mm, f=0.05 mm/rev and v=80 m/min respectively and improvement has been observed over dry cutting. RSM models are found to be statistically significant. Application of multi-nozzle MQL in machining of hardened steel outperformed through machinability assessment and may be adopted in shopfloor for sustainability..