USE OF GREY BASED TAGUCHI METHOD IN BALL BURNISHING PROCESS FOR THE OPTIMIZATION OF SURFACE ROUGHNESS AND MICROHARDNESS OF AA 7075 ALUMINUM ALLOY

This study investigated the multi-response optimization of burnishing process for an optimal parametric combination to yield favorable surface roughness and microhardness using the Grey relational analysis and Taguchi method. Sixteen experimental runs based on an orthogonal array of Taguchi method were performed to derive objective functions to be optimized within experimental domain. The objective functions have been selected in relation of burnishing parameters; burnishing force, number of passes. feed rate and burnishing speed. The Taguchi approach followed by Grey relational analysis was applyed to solve the multi-response optimization problem. The significance of the factors on overall quality characteristics of the burnishing process has also been evaluated quantitatively with the variance method (ANOVA). Optimal results were verified through confirmation experiments. This shows application feasibility of the Grey relation analysis in combination with Taguchi technique for continuous improvement in product quality in manufacturing industry.