Comparative Optimisation of the Cutting Parameters for Surface Quality and Energy Efficiency during the Machining Manufacturing of Teak, Saligna and Pine Wood Materials

Abstract

The rapid increase in electricity demand has resulted in the nation and state governments enforcing and implementing various forms of energy conservation conversations as well as seeking alternative energy sources in order to meet demand of the production sector. Manufacturing Industries of wood materials, in modern day trends, are principally focused on the achievement of highest quality products and quality planed surface generation at minimum input factor of resources such as machining energy. In wood artifacts manufacturing practice, the appropriateness of the cost-quality-time matrix normally depend on supreme selection of cutting parameters for the operation. Machining response factors, such as generation of smooth wood surface roughness is a vital metric of the product quality, granted it significantly influence the performance of machined wood parts, affects how the machined component will interact with the   environment as well as impacting on the artifact production costs. Energy use optimisation, in order to continue and enhance competitiveness in business operations, is a prime priority concern for the modern day wood machining manufacturing industry.  The challenges of ever increasing energy prices, against mounting demand for more energy demanding machinery, increasing pressure from environmentalists and increasing nation state legislation, for reduced energy generation prompted environmental pollution, mean that manufacturers are expected to pay more money and attention towards energy use reduction. Thus, it is imperative, during machining process planning of wood materials, to determine the optimum cutting parameters combination which fosters easy and economical machining which simultaneously deliver good surface quality at reduced energy consumption. This Taguchi design of experiment study analysed and comparatively optimised the cutting parameters of three wood species in order to realise consistent surface quality at minimum energy use during the planing machining of Pine, Saligna and Teak materials. Analysis of variance showed the dominant factors influencing the respective response parameters whilst the optimum cutting conditions were established with the aid of the main effects plot of the signal to noise ratio.