Experimental Study on Minimum Quantity Lubrication in Mechanical Micromachining

Abstract

Mechanical micromachining is a promising technique for making complex microstructures. It is challenging to apply mechanical micromachining in the industry due to the low strength of micro tools. Therefore, it is not easy to accurately control the product dimension error and to raise the production rate. In this paper, the applications of minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) in micro-milling and micro-grinding are presented. MQL is considered as a green manufacturing technology in metal cutting due to its low impact on the environment and human health. This study compares the tool wear and surface roughness in MQL micromachining to completely dry condition based on experimental investigations. The supply of MQL in vibration-assisted grinding is also studied. It is found that the use of MQL results in longer tool life and better surface roughness in mechanical micromachining. ? (2012) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.