Optimal cutting conditions in turning of particulate metal matrix composites based on experiment and a genetic search model

The results of an experimental study concerned with the evolution of cutting forces, tool wear and surface roughness, as functions of time when turning the particulate metal matrix composite A356/20/SiCp-T6 are presented, Inserts with polycrystalline diamond (PCD) were tested. Cutting forces were measured using a piezoelectric dynamometer. The wear type was identified and its evolution with cutting time was measured. To model the phenomena a hybrid technique based on an evolutionary search over the design space defined by the experimental results is considered. Optimal cutting conditions are searched using a genetic algorithm based on an elitist strategy. The chromosomes composed by random keys represent cutting conditions defined according to a temporal scale. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.