Effects of Machining Parameters on Surface Roughness when Ultra-High Precision Diamond Turning RSA443 Optical Aluminum
In the globally competitive environment, surface roughness and finer tolerances are becoming stringent and certainly most critical for optical components. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of diamond turning process parameters on surface finish when diamond turning RSA 443 alloy having high silicon content. This alloy is a new grade of aluminum that has a potential to be used for production of various optical components. The experiments were conducted based on the Box-Behnken design with three diamond-turning parameters varied at three levels. A mathematical regression model was developed for predicting surface roughness. Further, the analysis of variance was used to analyze the influence of cutting parameters and their interaction in machining. The developed prediction model reveals that cutting speed and feed rate are the most dominant diamond turning factors influencing surface roughness.