Turning of polymers: a novel multi-objective approach for parametric optimization

Abstract

Engineering problems often embodying with multi-response optimization may be confiscatory in nature. Multi-response optimization problems basically correspond to choosing the ‘best’ alternative from a set of available alternatives (where ‘best’ can be interpreted as ‘the most preferred alternative’ from the set of alternative solutions). Manufacturing process often involves optimization of machining parameters in order to improve product quality as well as to enhance productivity. Quality and productivity are two important but contradictory parameters while performing machining operations. Quality mainly concerns on surface roughness of the machined part whereas productivity is directly related to Material Removal Rate (MRR) during machining. As surface finish (roughness average value) is seemed inversely related to MRR, hence it becomes essential to evaluate the optimal cutting parameters setting in order to satisfy contradicting requirements of quality and productivity. The aim of this study is to propose an integrated methodology to state the machining characteristics in order that it may be competitive as regards of productivity and quality. Owing to this issue, in the present reporting two integrated multi-response optimization philosophies viz. (i) PCA coupled with TOPSIS and (ii) utility based fuzzy approach combined with Taguchi framework has been adopted for assessing favorable (optimal) machining condition during the machining of polymers (Nylon and Teflon, as case studies).