Prediction of Optimal Input Parameters for Incremental Sheet Metal Forming Process with Taguchi-Based GRA and TOPSIS Technique Using AISI 316

This paper reports the investigation of suitable input parameters for grade 316 stainless steel, which has numerous home and industrial applications. Various input parameters like ball diameter, speed, feed, vertical step depth (VSD) and lubrication were used in many combinations using L27 orthogonal array. Through experimental investigation various outputs like wall angle, formability, surface finish and spring back were obtained. From these outputs, optimized input parameters were obtained using grey relational analysis (GRA) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution method (TOPSIS). Analysis of variance was also used to find the influence of individual parameters. Different optimized parameters were obtained from both GRA and TOPSIS. However, TOPSIS gave better predicted closeness values compared to GRA. The most influencing factor was also found using analysis of variance (ANOVA).