Experimental Investigation of Machinability of AISI 316L Stainless Steel by High Feed Milling Method

This study aims to investigate the effects of different cutting conditions on the machining performance of difficult-to-machine AISI 316L stainless steel using the high-feed milling method. Experiments were conducted using different spindle speeds and feed rates; cutting temperatures were recorded using a thermal camera, surface roughness measured with a profilometer, and tool wear examined via SEM and EDS analysis. The findings reveal that air-assisted cooling reduced the maximum cutting temperature from 321°C to 197°C (a 39% reduction) compared to dry cutting. In terms of surface roughness, the lowest Ra value achieved under air-assisted conditions was 0.929 µm, compared to 1.100 µm under dry conditions. Tool wear analyses showed that air-assisted cooling significantly reduced coating delamination and material adhesion on the tool surface. These advantages provided by the air-assisted system stand out as an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient alternative, especially in processes where high temperatures and tool wear are critical.