Project Details
[Return to Previous Page]Tool Coating Performance in Drilling of Steel Alloys
Company: Quaker Houghton
Major(s):
Primary: IE
Secondary: ME
Optional: MATSE
Non-Disclosure Agreement: YES
Intellectual Property: YES
Background A variety of tool coatings are widely used for machining operations in the automotive industry. Tool coatings can help improve machining performance by extending tool life and increasing efficiency during machining. Depending on the type of coating, thermal resistance and increased lubricity can also be observed. Our group wants to explore the effects of tool coatings in machining of two steel alloys, at two speeds, to provide data we can refer to when selecting coated tools for future projects. In industry, tool wear is a major factor in determining how long a tool can be used for a machining operation. For this project, tool wear will be the main method of observing how well the different coatings perform and if they show a positive or negative effect compared to the control drill. To test the different coated carbide tools, the team is asked to drill two different steel alloys at two different speeds with a variety of carbide coated drills and a control tool to a specified number of holes. The test is based on how many holes were drilled with the control tool until it reaches 0.3 mm of maximum flank wear length which is the failure metric. Tool wear should be recorded at intervals holes until completion. After all tools have been tested the team can look at the tool wear measured and continue to drill with the carbide coated tools that showed the least amount of wear to determine how many holes can be drilled until failure of 0.3 mm flank wear length is reached. Deliverables: 1. The team researches the different types of coatings used on carbide drills and their purposes in industry. 2. The capstone team researches what is considered tool wear failure in the automotive industry. 3. Design an experiment focusing on using: a. 4-5 different coated carbide drills b. Control carbide tool c. Machine two steel alloys at two different speeds to a specified number of holes based using one Quaker Houghton metalworking fluid. d. Flank wear of each tool will be measured at certain intervals until the specified number of holes is met. The tools that do not reach failure after all initial testing is completed can be used to drill more holes until the flank wear reaches the failure metric. 4. Create a 3-D printed holder for the tools so that the tool is oriented correctly every time it is measured to ensure flank wear is measured accurately. 5. Report findings at end of semester and give presentation to Quaker Houghton team.
