Machining Performance and Health Effects of Cutting Fluid Application in Drilling of A390.0 Cast Aluminum Alloy

Environmental issues in machining have led to a push to curtail the use of cutting fluids. However, cutting fluid effects on part quality, process planning, and operator exposure to aerosols need to be first studied. The effects of cutting fluid application on hole accuracy and mist generation have been studied for blind-hole drilling of A390.0 aluminum alloy. Different cutting fluid types and application modes were tested under varying conditions of cutting speed, feed, and hole depth. The cooling and chip-transporting ability of cutting fluids was found to have the maximum effect on dimensional accuracy. Dry cutting yielded holes with the least accuracy, while mist lubrication was found to give superior dimensional accuracy to dry cutting but had the worst aerosol concentration. Flooding with synthetic cutting fluid gave the best overall results.