Numerical Study of Drilling Parameters with Al 356 Alloy Using Bacterial Foraging Optimization

Abstract

A mechanical work piece created industrially frequently contains more than one machining process. Furthermore, it is a common activity of programmers, who make this selection every time a milling and drilling operation is conducted. Tool wear and borehole quality are two essential challenges for high precision drilling procedures, with Al 356 alloy being employed in experimental planning. Drilling specifications will be assessed in this work to get optimal parameters in minimizing the influence of drilling damage on alloy using a swarm-based optimization model. The drilling parameters are optimized using the Bacterial Foraging Optimization (BFO) method, which includes three control factors: depth, feed rate, and spindle speed. Each parameter is designed in three levels, with multiple performance characteristics such as thrust force, surface roughness, and delamination factor. This investigation was carried out in order to obtain the proper optimization. The feed rate, next to the spindle speed, was discovered to be the essential element inducing lamination in drilling, with this phenomenon occurring in each diameter of the drill bit. The results reveal that the feed rate and drill type are the most important parameters influencing the drilling process, and that employing this strategy can successfully improve drilling process outcomes.