Application of particle swarm optimization and response surface methodology for machining parameters optimization of aluminium matrix composites in milling operation

Face milling is extensively used machining operation to generate the various components. Usually the selection of the process parameters are incorporated by trial and error method, literature survey and the machining hand book. This kind of selection of process parameters turns out to be very tedious and time-consuming. In order to overcome this there is a need to develop a technique that could be able to find the optimal process parameters for the desired responses in machining. The present paper illustrates an application of response surface methodology (RSM) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique for optimizing the process parameters of milling and provides a comparison study among desirability and PSO techniques. The experimental investigations are carried out on metal matrix composite material AA6061-4.5%Cu-5%SiCp to study the effect of process parameters such as feed rate, spindle speed and depth of cut on the cutting force, surface roughness and power consumption. The process parameters are analyzed using RSM central composite face-centered design to study the relationship between the input and output responses. The interaction between the process parameters was identified using the multiple regression technique, which showed that spindle speed has major contribution on all the responses followed by feed rate and depth of cut. It has shown good prediction for all the responses. The optimized process parameters are acquired through multi-response optimization using the desirability approach and the PSO technique. The results obtained from PSO are closer to the values of the desirability function approach and achieved significant improvement.