INFLUENCE OF CUTTING INSERTS IN MACHINING Al-Si ALLOY-BASED METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES

To better comprehend the machinability studies during MMCs, the effect of cutting tool while machining MMCs, the cutting forces that induce and importantly the influence of cutting tool were carried out. Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and uncoated tungsten carbide (K10) cutting tools were used to machine a eutectic (Al-12wt% Si alloy) and a hypereutectic (Al-17wt%Si) matrix material with Silicon Carbide (SiCP) and Aluminium Oxide (Al2O3P) in the particulate form at 0, 5, 7.5, and 10 volume percent volume fractions as MMCs. To further characterize the machinability of the composites, SEM analysis of chips created during machining and the cutting inserts was performed. Based on the results of the MMC machining operations, the Built-up Edge (BUE) development on the K10 insert has caused it to exert significantly higher cutting forces than the PCD. Machining of SiCp and Al2O3P reinforced Al-Si alloys utilizing K10 insert showed a comparatively bigger difference in cutting forces, indicating that the cutting forces exerted by PCD did not significantly alter with varied composite composition.