Papers by Author: Mohamed Konneh

Abstract: Silicon being a typical hard-brittle material is difficult to machine to a good surface finish. Although ductile-mode machining (DMM) is often employed to machine this advanced material but this technique requires the use of expensive ultra-precision machine tools therefore limiting its applicability. However, by proper selection of grinding parameters, precision grinding which can be performed on conventional machine tools can be used to generate massive ductile surfaces thereby reducing the polishing time and improving the surface quality. Precision grinding should be planned with reliability in advance and the process has to be performed with high rates of reproducibility. Therefore, this study investigated the effect and optimization of grinding parameters using Taguchi optimization technique during precision grinding of silicon. Experimental studies were conducted under varying depths of cut, feed rates and spindle speeds. An orthogonal array (OA), signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to find the minimum surface roughness value and to analyze the effect of the grinding parameters on the surface roughness. Confirmation tests were carried out in order to illustrate the effectiveness of the Taguchi method. The results show that feed rate mostly affected the surface roughness. The predicted roughness (Ra) of 34 nm was in agreement with the confirmation tests. Massive ductilestreaked surface was also found corresponding to the minimal surface finish determined from the optimal levels.

Abstract: Advanced development of computer network through Internet brings the technology to Manufacturing. Increasing the demand for effectively use of the production facility requires the tools for sharing the manufacturing facility by remote operation of the machining process. This paper introduces the methodology of machining technology for direct remote operation of networked milling machine. The tools including virtual simulation using CAD model, remote desktop protocol and Setup Free Attachment for remote operation of milling process are proposed. Accessing and monitoring of machining operation is performed by remote desktop interface and 3D virtual simulations. Capability of remote operation is supported by an auto setup attachment with a reconfigurable pin type setup free technology installed on the table of CNC milling machine to perform unattended machining process. The system is designed using a computer server and connected to a PC based controlled CNC machine for real time monitoring. A client will access the server through internet communication and virtually simulate the machine activity. The result has been presented that combination between real time virtual simulation and remote desktop tool is enabling to operate all machine tool functions and as well as workpiece setup.

Abstract: Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is widely used in the machining of electrically conductive hard metals for the production of dies and moulds. This paper describes an investigation of the effect of electrode cooling on the amount of elements migration from the electrode to the workpiece surface and from the workpiece to the electrode surface. In the present study EDM has been performed with electrodes cooled by liquid nitrogen as well as with electrodes without cooling. Current, pulse-on time, pulse-off time and voltage were taken as the variables during conducting the experiments. The analysis on material migration during EDM was carried out by SEM and EDX. It was observed that EDM with liquid nitrogen reduces material migration and minimizes the surface contamination of both the electrodes.

Abstract: Electrical discharge machining (EDM) process is a manufacturing method for shaping hard metals and formation of deep and complex shaped hole by spark erosion in electrical conductive materials such as metals, metallic alloys, ceramics etc. EDM process is achieved by a series of recurring electrical discharges between the electrode and workpiece in the presence of dielectric fluid. EDM unique feature of using thermal energy to machine conductive materials irrespective of material hardness has been its major advantage in the manufacture of aerospace, surgical, mould, die, automotive and as well as sport components. The effectiveness of EDM process depends among other factors on the thermal properties of the electrode material. The objective of this study is to study the influence of electrode cooling on recast layers and micro crack in EDM of titanium. The machining parameters investigated in the present study are current intensity (I), pulse on-time (Ton), pulse off-time (Toff) and gap voltage (V), which are of great interest for EDM researchers. The copper electrode is used to EDM titanium workpiece at room temperature and at sub-zero temperature using liquid nitrogen. The influence of cooling of copper electrode on recast layers and micro crack on titanium were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and has been reported in this study.

Abstract: High Speed Machining is applicable for producing parts that require little or no grinding / polishing operations within the required machining tolerances. For achieving required level of quality, selection of cutting tools and parameters in high speed machining is very important. In this study, small diameter flat end milling tool was used to achieve high rpm to facilitate the application of low values of feed and depth of cut to achieve better surface roughness. Machining was performed on a Vertical Machining Centre (VMC) with a high speed milling attachment (HES 510), using cutting speed, depth of cut, and feed as machining variables. Statistical prediction model of average surface roughness was developed using three-level full factorial design of experiments. It was observed that depth of cut is the most dominating factor followed by cutting speed and feed. The developed model was used for optimization by desirability function approach to obtain minimum Ra. Maximum desirability of 95.63% was obtained.

Abstract: Titanium alloys are commonly used in biomedical application in hard tissues replacement especially for knee and hip implants. Surface modifications are required prior to diamond coating process for improving tribological and wear properties of the titanium alloy. In this study, experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of different carburizing times on the adhesion strength of carbide layer formed on the Ti-6Al-7Nb. Prior to carburization process, all samples were treated to remove residual stress and oxide scales by annealing and pickling processes respectively. Hard wood charcoal powder was used as a medium. The carburizing process was carried out for 6, 12 and 24 hours at 950 °C under normal atmospheric condition. Surface morphology, carbide layer thickness and adhesion strength were evaluated using SEM, XRD, 3D Surface Profilometer and Blast Wear Tester (BWT). It is found that a mixture of oxide and carbide layers formed on the substrate and the thickness of these layers increases with carburizing time. It is also revealed that the 24 hr carburizing time provides the strongest adhesion strength among the three and TiC as the dominant layer.

Abstract: In this study, statistical models were developed using the capabilities of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to predict the surface roughness in high-speed flat end milling of Ti-6Al-4V under dry cutting conditions. Machining was performed on a five-axis NC milling machine with a high speed attachment, using spindle speed, feed rate, and depth of cut as machining variables. The adequacy of the model was tested at 95% confidence interval. Meanwhile, a time trend was observed in residual values between model predictions and experimental data, reflecting little deviations in surface roughness prediction. A very good performance of the RSM model, in terms of agreement with experimental data, was achieved. It is observed that cutting speed has the most significant influence on surface roughness followed by feed and depth of cut. The model can be used for the analysis and prediction of the complex relationship between cutting conditions and the surface roughness in flat end milling of Ti-6Al-4V materials. The developed quadratic prediction model on surface roughness was coupled with the genetic algorithm to optimize the cutting parameters for the minimum surface roughness.

Abstract: In electrical discharge machining (EDM), material is removed by a series of electrical discharge between the electrode (tool) and the workpiece that develops a temperature of about 8,0000C to 12,0000C. Due to high temperature of the sparks, work material is melted and vapourized, at the same time the electrode material is also eroded by melting and vapourization. Electrodes wear (EW) process is quite similar to the material removal mechanism as the electrode and the workpiece are considered as a set of electrode in EDM. In the present study effort has been made to reduce EW by cooling, using liquid nitrogen during the EDM of titanium alloy. Investigation on the effect of cooling on electrode wear (EW), material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (Ra) of the workpiece was carried out. Current (I), pulse on-time (ton), pause off-time (toff) and voltage (v) were considered as the machining parameters. Design of experiment (DOE) was used to design the experimental works. Cooling of electrode by this technique reduced the melting and vapourization of electrode material and enhances electrode life. It was possible to reduce EW up to 27% by applying this technique while MRR and Ra were improved by 18% and 8% respectively.