Abstract:Non-contact measurements of machining temperatures were performed with optical pyrometer when drilling particle (B₄C) reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) with different drills. The effect of particle content, cutting speed, feed rate and tool material on the maximum drilling temperature was investigated. The drilling parameters were optimized based on multiple performance characteristics in terms of the maximum cutting temperature and tool wear. According to the results, the most influential control factors on the cutting temperatures are found to be particle fraction, feed rate and interaction between the cutting speed and particle content, respectively. The influences of the cutting speed and drill material on the drilling temperature are found to be relatively lower for the used range of parameters. Minimum cutting temperatures are obtained with lower particle fraction and cutting speed, with relatively higher feed rates and carbide tools. The results reveal that optimal combination of the drilling parameters can be used to obtain both minimum cutting temperature and tool wear.

Key words: metal matrix composite; drilling temperature; wear; non-contact measurement; grey relation