The Implications of Wet and Dry Turning on the Surface Quality of EN8 Steel

This paper, by experimental and investigation, examines the effects of dry and flood cutting conditions by comparing the rate of tool wear during metal turning and the produced surface roughness to determine if dry cutting can be a cost effective solution. For efficient manufacturing, the surface roughness of the turned parts should be dependent on their intended application, factors such as environment of operation or further manufacturing processes will determine this level of surface roughness required, as the performance and mechanical properties of the material can be affected. EN8 steel has been selected as the work material for its popularity and low hardness. The results show both wet and dry conditions have their benefits in relation to the intended application of the part, but mostly dry turning produces competitive surface roughness when finished by turning when compared to wet, and acceptable levels of tool wear while rough cutting. It would be recommended that in most circumstance for rough cutting, dry conditions should be employed with the knowledge of slight increased tool wear and possibly shorter life but with reduced manufacturing costs and environmental hazards.