Experimental investigation of the application of the spray cooling method in stainless steel machining

High temperatures at the tool/chip interface due to high cutting speeds and harder material in machining have created severe economical and technical problems. The tool-life and surface finish are affected by the interface temperature. In the present work, the spray cooling method which has a superior heat removal capacity than flood cooling has been applied to reduce temperatures at the tool/chip interface and in the chip. An air assisted nozzle was used to supply the spray onto the tool/chip interface when machining a stainless-steel 416 bar in turning. The spray cooling cut compared with dry cut shows numerous advantages: smoother surface finish, better chip breakability, and longer tool-life. The main reason for these benefits is shown as resulting from the stabilized lower temperature at the tool/chip interface.