A comparison of dry and wet machining of SiC particle-reinforced aluminum metal matrix composites

This paper explains and demonstrates the machinability of dry and wet machining of SiC particle-reinforced aluminum metal matrix composites based on the experiments. The plunge surface experiments with mill-grinding method under wheel peripheral speed of up to 14.13m/s, feed rate 80mm/min and depth of cutting 50μm were carried out on a vertical CNC milling machine. The comparisons of dry and wet machining on the force composites and surface roughness (Ra) versus material removal volume were studied. The material removal volume was gained with the same machining parameters after an equal period of time. In most cases, the tangential mill-grinding force values are greater in wet machining condition than that in dry condition. But for normal mill-grinding force, the Fn values are much greater in dry machining condition than that in wet condition. And the normal mill-grinding force in wet machining increased quickly with increasing material removal volume. A better surface finish can be produced in dry machining than that produced by wet machining. The surface roughness decreased slowly with the increasing material removal volume and the surface roughness shows an insignificant decreasing trend in wet machining.