INVESTIGATION OF THERMALLY ENHANCED MACHINING ON MACHINABILITY OF 316L STAINLESS STEEL USING OXYACETYLENE FLAME AS HEAT SOURCE

Thermally enhanced machining (TEM) by using oxyacetylene flame is a potential non_conventional machining technique for difficult-to-cut materials. Furthermore,
oxyacetylene flame has been reported by various researchers to have excellent
benefits for thermal softening in TEM process. However, the high heat flux associated
with the use of oxyacetylene flame as a heat source in TEM has undermined its wide
adoption. This setback is related to the difficulties in controlling the oxyacetylene
flame parameters. These heat source parameters of oxyacetylene flame have been
found to influence the high heat flux which can be used to enhance machinability
improvement during TEM process. Yet, in-depth review has revealed that this scope
is not covered in the wide published literatures. Hence, the aim of this study is to
investigate the parameters of oxyacetylene flame that are significant contributors for
the high heat flux which can as well be utilized to enhance machinability during heat
assisted machining using end milling process.