OBSERVING TOOL WEAR DURING MILLING MILD STEEL IN MINIMUM QUANTITY LUBRICATION (MQL) USING PALM OIL

In machining, the cutting parameters faced by the cutting tool and workpiece during machining of materials acts as a huge factor on cutting performance. Higher cutting temperature indirectly produces higher cutting force that eventually may increase cutting tool wear and decreases the tool life. Benefits of cutting fluid is that it acts as lubricant and coolant during machining thus increases the lifespan of the cutting tool as it reduces cutting temperature and cutting force. The usage of cutting fluid increases the rate of manufacturing process but also cause an increase of manufacturing cost. Cutting fluid also possess threat to health and environment. An alternative to overcome this problem is the introduction of a new method of minimally usage of cutting fluid. This method is known as Microlubrication or so called Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL). This alternative method help reduces the cost as the amount of cutting fluid used is reduced. This method also promotes healthy working environment as vegetable oil or specifically palm oil may be used to replace the conventional cutting fluid. This research tested the MQL method by observing the tool wear after the cutting process. The tool wear are compared with dry cutting and wet cutting conditions. It is found out that tool wear in MQL using palm oil is much slower than it happened in dry cutting and also comparable with the tool wear in wet cutting