Tool Wear Analysis During Drilling of Inconel 718: Additively Manufactured Versus Wrought
Authors :- Baraiya, S., Modi, K., Joshi, K., Khanna, N.
Publication :- Recent Trends in Material Processing, Characterization and Applications. AEMTA 2024, Springer, 2025
The use of various additive-manufactured nickel-based superalloys in aero-part components has increased significantly in the recent years. Nevertheless, there remains considerable scope for exploration in the machining of Inconel 718, particularly in achieving precision in drill holes leading to better tool life. This paper presents a detailed investigation of the drilling technique applied to additively manufactured Inconel 718 fabricated by the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) method compared to its wrought counterpart. During the drilling process, a TiN-coated solid carbide drill bit was used, and liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) was applied as a cryogenic coolant to enhance the machining process for effectiveness. The drilling experiments analysis focuses on tool-life, at a cutting speed maintained at 25 m/min and a feed rate of 0.04 mm/rev. Research findings indicate that liquid carbon dioxide-assisted drilling leads to a 68% reduction in tool wear for the SLM Inconel 718 workpiece compared to wrought Inconel 718.