Optimization of Operating Parameters during Surface Milling of Hardened AISI4340 Steel with Minimal Pulsed Jet Fluid Application

Surface milling of hardened steel is usually carried out with copious supply of cutting fluid and is associated with problems related to procurement, storage, and disposal of cutting fluid. The present investigation proposes a technique of milling of hardened AISI4340 steel with minimal fluid application using a high velocity, narrow pulsed jet of cutting fluid produced by a fluid application system. A proprietary cutting fluid was used in this investigation and the scheme can be implemented easily on the shop floor without the need for any major alternations on the existing facilities and it was observed that the new scheme offered not only environmental friendliness but also better cutting performance when compared to conventional wet milling.