The Effect of Hot Machining of Difficult-to-Machine Materials on the Form Accuracy in the Turning Process

Form accuracy of machined parts is crucial to the interchangeability in production as well as the function of the part and its expected useful life. Numerous studies investigated the form accuracy in traditional machining operations but none of them considered this issue in hot machining. In this technique, a difficult-to-machine workpiece is preheated to soften its material and reduce the cutting force. In this paper, the form accuracy represented in roundness, tape, and straightness of hot turned AISI 304L parts are investigated. The results showed that the hot condition has a minimal effect on the form accuracy which confirms the suitability of hot turning in the manufacturing of precision parts. Nevertheless, this operation is still not suitable for finishing stages due to the part distortion and dimensional relative inaccuracy owing to thermal expansion.